2024-03-07 09:00:55
Every year, more than 25,000 patients are diagnosed with a rare form of cancer
During the fifth Week of Rare Cancers (4 to 10 March), Platform Rare Cancers, KWF,kanker.nl, IKNL and NFK draw attention to the position of people with a rare cancer. Carla van Herpen, professor of rare cancers and head of the Medical Oncology department, was offered a patient journey on Monday on behalf of the Rare Cancers Platform. This contains seven bottlenecks that patients with a rare form of cancer encounter.
Watch the video in which Carla van Herpen addresses the challenges faced by people with rare cancers.
Seven bottlenecks
Patients encounter problems at different stages of their journey. For example, in the beginning it appears that the diagnostic process often takes longer, that patients are more often misdiagnosed and there are fewer treatment options. In addition, patients lack a fixed point of contact. They see many different healthcare providers who do not work together enough and often feel insecure and alone. Too often, patients feel abandoned and, even in the palliative phase, have to figure out for themselves what options may still be available.
More attention to rare cancers
Every year, more than 25,000 patients are diagnosed with a rare form of cancer. This means that 1 in 5 cancer patients has a rare form of cancer. Research by Eline de Heus has shown that the chance that patients with a rare cancer will still live after 5 years is on average 17% lower than with a common form of cancer.
For more information, visit www.radboudumc.nl/zeldzamekanker
Source: Radboud university medical center
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