Even in this disease, the most important factor in the treatment of its early-stage capture is the early-onset disease being treatable. This year the Ministry of Health of the Slovak Republic supported the global campaign MOVEMBER, which is dedicated to the prevention of prostate cancer. Prostatic cancer is the third most common malignant disease in men after lung and colon cancer. Prostate cancer is known to affect mainly older men – up to 80% in men over 65 years of age. According to information from the National Cancer Institute, a total of 9000 people live in Slovakia with this diagnosis, and according to the estimates of the NOI for 2021, almost 2800 new cases are recorded. In 2020, about 600 men died from the disease.
The Department of Health stresses the importance of carrying out a urological check under statutory health insurance - in men over 50 with periodicity every 3 years and in men over 40 years of age with prostate cancer in the first stage of the family relationship - every 3 or 2 years according to PSA values.
Vladimir Lengvarsky, Minister for Health, at today's press conference on MOVEMBRU:
Oncology diseases are the second most common cause of death in Slovakia. We need to put more emphasis on prevention, either screening or preventive screening. I also call on men to go to urologists to check their health. I consider the MOVEMBER campaign to be very important also because many lives can be saved by spreading awareness and information about prostate cancer. Early disease recovery is less mentally and financially difficult for both human and health systems. For my operations on the health resort, such campaigns will be supported.
Non-invasive diagnostics are used as standard in the initial examination in prostate cancer patients, with 13 nuclear medicine workplaces in Slovakia, 9 of which are equipped with modern hybrid SPECT/CT. Six nuclear medicine workplaces have at their disposal the most modern diagnostic modality used in oncology, a hybrid device of positron emission tomography. 3 workplaces can be examined with a radiopharmaceutical specifically developed for specific indications of targeted diagnosis in prostate cancer (Ga-PSMA).
Already soon, the NOI will present a Slovak version of the patient's manual on prostate cancer, which will provide appropriate information on this disease, prevention and treatment options. I reaffirm my statement that cancers, their treatment and prevention are a priority for the Ministry. This is evidenced by the steps taken by us to provide new medicines for cancer patients thanks to Law No.363.
In total, this year MZ SR strengthened the field of oncology therapy with 15 innovative medicines and 19 new indications, Vladimír Lengvarsky stated. We have provided free vaccination of 12-year-olds against the HPV virus with 9-valent vaccines, and we are discussing with partners the extension of this age group, we are continuing free screening of 3 cancers and we have launched public service broadcasting cooperation with TVs to promote HPV vaccination (scores created by the Alliance NO). RAKOVINE is in the month of November or is gradually deployed on TV JOJ, Marizz and RTVS) and in the near future we want to prepare campaigns on prevention and screening, i.e. onco-control. We thank the media for their support, as well as all patient organisations and other partners, added the Minister for Health.
