The women with breast cancer will be mandatorily offered free psychological assistance within each rehabilitation session. For the purpose, the Oncological Institute hired several psychologists and invited future psychologists studying their last year for internship, Minister of Health Ala Nemerenco has said.
She noted she discussed with the UNFPA, which confirmed its readiness to purchase the necessary equipment for the rehabilitation unit of the Oncological Institute given that reproductive health is their area of intervention and also in connection with the refugee crisis as the refugees also use such services.
Ala Nemerenco said all the oncological diseases come with a heavy burden that consists of long examinations, hospitalization, chemotherapy and surgical treatment. The women who have mastectomy suffer an emotional shock when they think what will happen next. The esthetic imperfections with scars have a serious impact. Besides, the patients experience lymphedema following mastectomy. Some of them attend periodic rehabilitation sessions for tens of years.
The rehabilitation unit of the Oncological Institute has competent personnel, but the equipment and furniture there date from the 1970s and needs to be replaced.
As from this year, the women who undergo surgery for benign and malign breast tumors benefit from free breast prostheses paid with money from the mandatory health insurance funds.
