Croatia Ranks Second in EU Cancer Mortality

The news in Croatian

1. umrijeti
   prestati živjeti, izdahnuti; smrtni ishod ↩︎
2. smrtnost  (f.)
   broj smrtnih slučajeva unutar određene populacije u određenom vremenskom razdoblju ↩︎
3. prevencija  (f.)
   skup mjera i aktivnosti kojima se sprječava pojava bolesti ↩︎
4. plan  (m.)
   promišljena zamisao kako nešto ostvariti ↩︎
5. liječenje  (n.)
   proces primjene medicinskih postupaka za ozdravljenje ↩︎
6. pacijent  (m.)
   osoba koja prima medicinsku pomoć ↩︎

Translation

Text comprehension

Question 1: How many people die from cancer each year in Croatia?

Question 2: What is being planned to improve cancer treatment in Croatia?

Vocabulary

Croatian	English
umrijeti	to die
smrtnost  (f.)	mortality
prevencija  (f.)	prevention
plan  (m.)	plan
liječenje  (n.)	treatment
pacijent  (m.)	patient

Read the full story

In a concerning development, Croatia has been highlighted as the country with the second-highest cancer mortality rate in the European Union. The annual deaths attributable to cancer approach 14,000 citizens, a figure that situates Croatia grimly high in the EU.

This alarming statistic was shared during the “Together Against Cancer” conference in Zagreb, where experts underscored the rise in cancer cases across the country over recent years. The national incidence of cancer, including types considered preventable like breast, prostate, colon, and lung cancer, has exceeded the EU average.

Romana Jerković-Kraljić, the Deputy Chair of the European Parliament’s Health Committee, expressed concern about Croatia’s subpar investment in cancer prevention and public awareness campaigns. Furthermore, Jerković-Kraljić revealed inefficiencies in national cancer screening programs, specifically noting the absence of a cervical cancer screening initiative and the alarmingly low participation rates in colon cancer screenings.

Health experts pointed out existing inequities in oncological care throughout Croatia, with variations in cancer incidence and mortality correlating with geographic and socio-economic disparities. These disparities manifest in uneven access to early diagnosis and treatment facilities, particularly affecting rural and low-income populations.

Professor Vesna Ramljak commented on the often delayed advent of treatment following diagnosis, citing equipment failures as a recurring issue. Despite the purchase of numerous radiation therapy devices, maintenance problems have led to significant treatment delays, impacting primarily breast cancer patients and those suffering from head and neck cancers.

Moreover, air pollution levels in Croatia, reportedly higher than the EU average, have been identified as a compounding factor in cancer rates, alongside high smoking and obesity rates. Experts estimate that by reducing smoking rates alone, Croatia could prevent over 22,000 new cancer cases by 2050.

There is, however, a note of positive development. Thanks to European Union funding, significant investments in radiotherapy infrastructure have been secured, projecting improvements in the national cancer control strategy. This investment includes 21 new linear accelerators and several other essential technological upgrades, valued at approximately 85 million euros.

The conference also addressed the broader societal impact of cancer. Ljiljana Vukota, from the SVE za NJU association, highlighted cancer’s status as the leading cause of mortality among the working-age population under 65 in Croatia. Vukota advocates for reforms in employment legislation to better accommodate cancer survivors attempting to re-enter the workforce.

In conclusion, while challenges remain for Croatia in its fight against cancer, ongoing efforts and international support hint at a potential turnaround. Emphasizing both prevention and better health infrastructure is central to reversing current trends and improving patient outcomes.

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