European Breast Unit for Ukrainian Women

The old system, when doctors "pass" patients to each other along the chain, does not contribute to the success of treatment. Patients often have to move from one hospital to another, they do not have access to full physical rehabilitation or to psychological help.

To provide the whole complex - diagnostics, surgical treatment, chemotherapy, targeted therapy, and radiotherapy, a team of doctors working in a specialized unit equipped with modern equipment is needed. Therefore, new standards have been formed in the world and special breast units have been created. There type of unit exists in Ukraine in the Hospital of Israeli Oncology LISOD.

Why is it so important for the patients?

"Because treatment in centres which is organized according to optimal criteria, increases the percentage of people who have recovered. This is reliable, it is proven by statistics", explains Andrii Zhygulin, the head of LISOD Breast Unit, "This is how the work is organized in our Breast Unit, which has been operating at The Israeli Oncology Hospital since 2010, and in 2012 was registered in the International Breast Centres network."

What does the registration in the Breast Centres network mean?

Andrii: "This means that the unit works according to the best European standards, which is confirmed by our certificates of compliance."

It is the European standards that form the basis of the unit’s activities. A whole team of medical experts works for every patient. Doctors constantly interact with each other, aiming the optimal final result, and to achieve better indicators by all parameters of treatment. Doctors work together each case is discussed at an interdisciplinary tumour board; each of the doctors knows what the other is doing. The decision is made jointly and takes into account the wishes of the patient herself; especially if it concerns surgery as this one of the most important stages of the treatment.

Can a patient affect the medical decision?

Andrii: "When it comes to choosing a type of surgery, the patient takes an active part in the process. As a rule, we offer several options for surgical treatment, all of wich are equally safe. On our part, it is important to honestly explain the features of each of the options, talk about the positive aspects and possible complications, and help to choose the best option together. Thus, we prepare the patient for each stage both physically and psychologically.

We try to create an atmosphere of support and participation, so that the woman is calm during treatment. It is important for us that she not only recovers, but remains satisfied with her appearance. Often we offer the patient an option in which after oncological treatment she gets to have even more beautiful breasts than before."