Patient Pathways: Lung Cancer
Lung cancer
Lung cancer is one of the most common and severe types of cancer. It is caused by the uncontrolled growth of abnormal cells in the lungs. It is one of the leading causes of cancer death in the country. A large number of new cases are diagnosed every year, indicating a high incidence rate. This disease affects a large number of people and is most common in smokers and former smokers.
Due to the complexity of treatment and various therapeutic options that include surgery, radiotherapy, chemotherapy, angiogenesis inhibitors, patients with lung cancer face numerous challenges. Therefore, it is necessary to provide comprehensive support measures that include medical care, psychological support and education in order to improve the quality of life of patients and facilitate coping with the disease. Although the incidence is increasing, mortality rates have remained relatively stable.
There are two main types of lung cancer: non-small cell lung cancer (NSCLC) and small cell lung cancer (SCLC). NSCLC accounts for about 85% of all lung cancer cases and includes subtypes such as adenocarcinoma, squamous cell carcinoma, and large cell carcinoma. SCLC is less common but more aggressive and often spreads quickly to other parts of the body.
Patient pathways
Developing a comprehensive lung cancer treatment plan involves steps from initial presentation and diagnosis to treatment and follow-up. Below is a detailed plan:
1. Diagnostics
The patient presents with symptoms such as cough, shortness of breath, chest pain, coughing up blood.
Consultation with a general practitioner (GP): The patient visits a general practitioner.
Medical history and physical examination: Detailed medical history of the patient.
Initial tests: High-resolution low-dose CT scan.
Referral to a specialist Referral to a radiologist and oncologist.
Diagnostic evaluation
- Chest X-ray
- Chest CT scan - the gold standard for suspected lung cancer.
- Brain CT/MRI - may be appropriate to locate potential brain metastases.
- PET-CT - provides information on whether tumor tissue is growing.
- FOB with sampling - can reveal the area of the tumor and a sample can be taken for biopsy.
- Transbronchial needle aspiration or biopsy (TBNA) - carries a small risk of air entering the lungs and developing pneumothorax.
- Thoracentesis - to detect cancer cells. Bone scintigraphy - used to determine if the cancer has metastasized to the bone.
- Endobronchial ultrasound - EBUS (inspection of mediastinal structures linearly with an ultrasound probe pressed against the wall of the trachea and large bronchi and needle punctures of enlarged lymph nodes) and rEBUS (diagnosis of peripheral lesions with a radial ultrasound probe)
- Surgery - if none of the previous methods lead to a diagnosis, the tumor tissue must be reached by surgical biopsy.
- Blood tests - to detect biochemical and metabolic abnormalities in the body that sometimes accompany cancer.
2. Treatment
Multidisciplinary Team (MDT) meeting
MDT discussion: Review of diagnostic findings with specialists including endocrinologists, surgeons, oncologists, radiologists, and pathologists.
Development of a treatment plan: Based on the stage of lung cancer and the patient’s overall health.
Treatment options
- Surgical treatment
- Radiotherapy
- Chemotherapy
- Targeted therapy
- Angiogenesis inhibitors
- Immunotherapy
- Combined treatment
3. After Treatment: Follow-up, Rehabilitation and Survivorship
Monitoring
Intensive care unit, regular check-ups with physical examinations
Periodic imaging (ultrasound, CT or MRI) to monitor for recurrence.
Rehabilitation
Physical therapy to recover from surgery.
Psychosocial support: counseling and support groups for emotional well-being.
Long-term care for survivors: monitoring for late effects of treatment. Health promotion and lifestyle changes to improve overall well-being.
Secondary prevention: screening for other malignancies and maintaining a healthy lifestyle.
4. Palliative care (if applicable)
Palliative treatments: To relieve symptoms and improve quality of life in advanced cancer.
Pain management: Medications, nerve blocks.
Symptom control: Managing shortness of breath, pain, etc.
Hospice care: For end-of-life care if curative treatment is no longer an option.
Challenges faced by lung cancer patients throughout their treatment journey
Challenges during diagnositc evaluation
A lung cancer diagnosis can be a stressful and challenging time for patients. Support during this phase can significantly improve the patient’s emotional and physical state.
Patients with lung cancer face various difficulties during diagnosis, such as physical, psychological, financial and professional difficulties and lack of information.
Physical challenges
Symptoms of the disease: shortness of breath, cough, chest pain, coughing up blood.
Psychological challenges
Fear of a cancer diagnosis, uncertainty about treatment: fear of possible complications and side effects of treatment. The process of emotionally accepting a cancer diagnosis can be very stressful and challenging. The patient needs emotional support, which puts pressure on family and friends to provide support.
Social isolation: feeling isolated due to illness and the need for privacy.
Financial and professional challenges
Absence from work: frequent medical check-ups and treatments can lead to absence from work, which can affect career and financial stability. The costs of diagnosis and treatment, inadequate health insurance.
Lack of information
Patients often have difficulty finding reliable and understandable information about the disease, diagnostic procedures, treatment options, and their rights.
Insufficiently clear communication with doctors: the complexity of medical terminology and the lack of time during consultations can make it difficult to fully understand the diagnosis and treatment options.
Challenges during treatment
Physical challenges
Lack of energy: constant fatigue and exhaustion due to treatment and hormonal therapy. Fatigue, loss of appetite and weight, nausea, vomiting, breathing problems, neurological symptoms, pain.
Problems with nutrition: Difficulty eating due to nausea, loss of appetite or problems with swallowing.
Scars from surgical procedures can affect appearance and self-confidence.
Skin problems: skin damage due to therapy.
Eye problems: Dry eyes or irritation due to radiation therapy.
Psychological challenges
Fear and anxiety: fear of the disease, treatment, side effects and uncertainty of outcome, anxiety related to regular check-ups and fear of recurrence. Depression: feelings of hopelessness, loss of interest in everyday activities, isolation. Changes in body image: discomfort due to physical changes, such as scars or changes in weight.
Stress due to treatment: Psychological stress due to intensive treatments and their impact on everyday life.
Relationship with a partner: sexual problems, decreased libido and emotional distance due to illness.
Family Relationships: Tensions within the family due to stress, changes in roles and responsibilities.
Social isolation: withdrawal from social activities due to fatigue, discomfort or fear of exposure to infections during therapy.
Financial and professional challenges
Reduced ability to work due to fatigue, side effects of treatment and emotional problems.
Absences from work: frequent medical visits and treatments that require absences from work, which can affect career and financial stability.
High costs of medicines, surgeries, therapies and other medical services, travel and accommodation costs for patients who have to travel to health care centers. Reduced income due to reduced work capacity or job loss. Ongoing costs associated with long-term follow-up and health maintenance.
Lack of information
The need to understand complex medical information and make informed decisions. Difficulties in making treatment decisions due to a lack of reliable and understandable information or conflicting advice.
Ignorance of patient rights.
Lack of information on healthcare providers during treatment.
Challenges during rehabilitatio and disease monitoring
Physical challenges
Fatigue: Even after treatment is complete, many patients experience persistent fatigue that can last for months or even years.
Shortness of breath: Breathing problems may persist due to damage to lung tissue from the tumor or treatment (e.g. radiation).
Cough: A persistent cough may be present, although it may be less intense than during active treatment.
Pain: Pain in the chest, shoulders, or back may be the result of surgery, scarring, or metastases. Nerve damage pain after chemotherapy also occurs.
Weakness and decreased stamina: Muscle weakness and decreased physical endurance are common due to prolonged inactivity and loss of muscle mass.
Impaired lung function: Permanent reduction in lung capacity can affect the ability to perform activities of daily living.
Sleep problems: Insomnia or sleep disturbances may persist due to physical discomfort or anxiety.
Neuropathy: Nerve damage, often caused by chemotherapy, can lead to numbness, pain, or weakness in the extremities.
Swallowing problems: Especially after radiation therapy, some patients may have difficulty swallowing or discomfort in the throat.
Psychological challenges
Fear of recurrence: ongoing fear of cancer returning. Anxiety and depression: psychological stress and emotional problems associated with the experience of cancer. Social isolation: reduced social interaction due to fatigue, anxiety or other symptoms.
Financial and professional challenges
Returning to work: difficulties returning to work due to physical and emotional limitations. The long-term financial burden associated with ongoing medical expenses.
Challenges during palliative care
The difficulties faced by lung cancer patients in Croatia and their families during palliative care are manifold and encompass several key aspects:
Limited access to palliative care: there is a significant gap between the need for palliative care and available resources. Insufficient capacity of specialized palliative care providers.
Psychological challenges
The psychosocial and emotional burden on patients and their families is often high. Family caregivers often face high levels of stress and emotional burden. Cultural and ethical issues: reluctance to discuss end-of-life issues can hinder the provision of effective palliative care. Ethical challenges in making decisions and providing care can also create additional stress for families and healthcare professionals.
Financial challenges
The cost of care can be a significant burden on families, especially given the long-term nature of palliative care. The economic pressure can further exacerbate the stress experienced by patients and their families, affecting their overall well-being and quality of life. Challenges in care coordination: effective palliative care requires coordination between different healthcare providers. In Croatia, there are challenges related to care coordination between hospitals, palliative care units and home care services. Addressing these challenges requires a comprehensive approach that includes improving access to palliative care, providing emotional and psychological support to families, addressing economic burdens, and ensuring effective care coordination. In addition, public education and awareness-raising about the benefits of palliative care can help reduce cultural and ethical barriers.
Challenges patients face after completing lung cancer treatment
Physical challenges
Fatigue: Prolonged fatigue can last for months or even years after treatment is complete. This can significantly affect quality of life and the ability to perform activities of daily living.
Shortness of breath: Patients often experience persistent breathing problems due to damage to lung tissue from cancer or treatment, such as surgery or radiation.
Cough: A persistent cough, although usually less intense than during active treatment, may persist even after treatment is complete.
Pain: Pain in the chest, shoulders, or back can be caused by surgery, scarring, or metastases. Nerve pain after chemotherapy is also common.
Weakness and decreased stamina: Muscle weakness and decreased physical endurance are common due to prolonged inactivity and loss of muscle mass during treatment.
Impaired lung function: Reduced lung capacity can permanently affect the ability to perform physical activities.
Sleep problems: Insomnia or other sleep disturbances may persist due to physical discomfort, anxiety, or the side effects of treatment.
Neuropathy: Nerve damage, a common side effect of chemotherapy, can cause numbness, pain, or weakness in the extremities.
Swallowing problems: Difficulty swallowing or discomfort in the throat can occur, especially after radiation therapy.
Psychological difficulties
Depression, anxiety, and stress are common after cancer treatment and can exacerbate physical symptoms.
Skin problems: Skin may remain sensitive, dry, or prone to irritation after radiation therapy or chemotherapy.
Hormonal changes: Patients who have received certain types of therapy may experience hormonal changes that affect mood, energy levels, and other bodily functions.
Psychological challenges
Cancer survivors often experience anxiety and fear of the cancer returning, which can affect their emotional well-being. They may also face difficulties adjusting after treatment, including changes in daily routines and life plans. The role of family members as caregivers often changes after treatment is complete. Their support remains crucial, but adaptation to new circumstances and reduced intensity of care may be necessary.
Lifestyle and prevention: Patients are encouraged to adopt healthy lifestyle habits such as regular physical activity, a healthy diet, not smoking, and stress management to improve their quality of life and reduce the risk of cancer recurrence.
Financial and professional challenges
Returning to work: Many survivors face challenges returning to work, including fatigue, decreased energy levels, and physical limitations after treatment. They need support in adapting to the work environment and managing employer expectations. Employers are often unaware of how to support cancer survivors returning to work.
Coordination of health care
Regular checkups: It is important to continue with regular checkups to monitor for cancer recurrence or side effects of treatment. This includes blood tests and imaging such as ultrasound, depending on the risk of cancer recurrence.
Lung cancer patients face various challenges during their diagnostic, treatment and rehabilitation journey, including physical, psychological, financial and professional difficulties, lack of information, and coordination of health care. Providing comprehensive support that includes medical care, psychological support, education, and social services can significantly improve the quality of life and treatment outcomes for these patients.
Supportive activities for patients with lung cancer
A coordinated multidisciplinary approach to the provision of supportive care in healthcare settings is essential to help patients throughout their treatment journey. Such an approach significantly improves the quality of life of patients with lung cancer, helping them to cope more easily with the difficulties that the disease and treatment bring.
Civil society organizations, such as patient associations and cancer societies, can play a key role in informing patients about such supportive activities. In addition, associations can also organize and provide some of the necessary support to patients in order to reduce physical, psychological, financial and professional difficulties, the lack of verified and understandable information and strengthen the coordination of health care, not only within the health system but also through activities aimed to actively involve patients in the development of better national health guidelines and policies.
Supportive activities provided by healthcare institutions
Supportive activities for physical challenges
Supportive activities for lung cancer patients within the healthcare system encompass a wide range of services aimed at improving the overall quality of life of patients. In addition to medical care that includes regular monitoring through blood tests, ultrasound, MRI or CT scans, and follow-up by specialist physicians, patients should have access to a multidisciplinary team of specialists for optimal management of physical difficulties.
Family physician: Provides ongoing health care during and after treatment.
Oncologist: Comprehensive treatment management.
Dietitian: Provides dietary advice and weight management.
Physiotherapist: Pain management and mobility improvement.
Psychologist: Helps with emotional issues.
Oncology nurses: They care for you before, during and after treatment, provide information about your daily treatment plan and teach you how to use aids.
Supportive activities for psychological challenges
Patients with cancer and their families almost inevitably face numerous psychological difficulties throughout the entire therapeutic journey. Expert psychological help in the form of individual counseling, group therapy, counseling with a partner and family counseling is a key part of support for cancer patients. Also, a psychiatrist may recommend psychopharmacotherapy as a support for patients.
Supportive activities for providing reliable and understandable information
Informed Consent: The signed form is proof that a conversation in which the doctor provides information to the patient about diagnostic and therapeutic procedures, risks, complications and alternative treatments has led to mutual understanding. Detailed but easy-to-understand educational content for patients is essential in this process, but often not available.
Right to a second opinion: guaranteed by the Patient Rights Act. The patient always has the right to seek a second opinion on their health status. At the verbal or written request of the patient, every healthcare professional with a high professional qualification and appropriate specialization who was not involved in the direct provision of a certain type of health service to the patient is obliged to give a second opinion. In addition to the patient, the doctor can also initiate the procedure of seeking a second opinion. In the case of diagnosing a rare disease, the impossibility of finding (adequate) therapy, inadequate technological equipment of the health institution that prevents or makes it difficult to establish a diagnosis or the course of therapy, doctors often seek help and confirmation from their colleagues from other institutions in order to provide the best possible approach to each patient.
Supportive activities provided by associations
Supportive activities for physical challenges
Support related to side effects of treatment: organizing workshops and information activities that educate patients on ways to manage side effects. Providing brochures and online resources with practical advice.
Support related to symptoms of the disease: access to medical professionals for early intervention and treatment of symptoms. Organization of counseling centers where patients can receive advice from medical professionals and psychologists. Inclusion of medical advisors in support programs.
Support related to metabolic disorders, nutritional problems and lack of energy: connecting patients with nutritionists and endocrinologists through organized events and online consultations to personalize the patient’s nutritional plan and collaboration of fitness and nutrition professionals for personalized recommendations for moderate exercise. Organizing practical workshops on proper nutrition, creating educational materials.
Supportive activities for psychological challenges
Providing free or subsidized psychological counseling, organizing support groups and telephone lines for psychological support. In the case of depressive disorders, support in finding a psychiatrist and therapist, and cooperation of associations with them. Organizing support groups for conversation and exchange of experiences.
Organizing workshops and therapy groups that focus on body positivity and embracing change. Providing free courses in meditation, yoga and relaxation techniques. Creating online resources and applications to help manage stress.
Associations can organize workshops for couples, including counseling with experts on sexual health.
Organizing family therapy sessions and workshops that involve all family members in the support process.
Connecting with peer groups and social activities. Organizing social events, online forums and support groups where patients can connect and share their experiences.
Supportive activities for financial and professional challenges
Advice on labor rights and workplace adjustments. Providing legal advice and support for talking to employers about workplace adjustments. Organizing workshops on worker rights.
Connecting patients with financial advisors and organizing workshops on managing finances during treatment.
Providing information on financial assistance, organizing fundraising campaigns and assisting with financial assistance applications.
Connecting patients with social workers and providing free financial advice.
Supportive activities for providing reliable and understandable information necessary for informed participation in the treatment process
Understanding the disease and treatment: education and information materials. Organization of educational seminars and workshops with medical professionals. Distribution of brochures and online resources about the disease and treatment.
Supportive activities regarding patient rights
Information is provided about rights and social assistance options. You can find everything about patient rights at this link of the IGET Association - Institute for Gastroenterological Tumors: https://iget.hr/prava-osoba-oboljelih-od-onkoloskih-bolesti/
Examples of successful supportive activities of croatian associations
Civil society organizations and patient associations play a vital role in providing support to patients with lung cancer. These groups often offer peer support systems where patients can connect with others going through similar experiences, providing a sense of community and understanding.
They can also organize educational workshops and seminars to inform and educate patients, empowering them to actively participate in the treatment process.
Patient associations are also active in the policies of the health system and the social care system by raising public and political stakeholders’ awareness of the needs of patients, and patients about their rights.
A large number of civil society organizations that provide support to cancer patients operate in Croatia. A larger number of associations in Croatia are listed in the directory, while here we specifically highlight:
Jedra Association - Zagreb
Jordanovac 104
mail: info@jedra.hr
Website: www.jedra.hr
Available supportive content for cancer patients
The Croatian translation of several Guides for patients was carried out by the Association of Women with and Treated for Cancer ALL for HER, based on the approval of the European Society for Medical Oncology (ESMO).
ESMO Patient Guide Living with Cancer
This Patient Guide to Living with Cancer was produced by the European Society for Medical Oncology (ESMO) and the European Cancer Patient Coalition (ECPC) in collaboration with the International Psycho-Oncology Society (IPOS) to help you and others like you during this important time in your life. In this Guide you can find information about support in coping with the new reality of life, life after primary treatment, preventive care and long-term follow-up. It will also help you keep your personal health record, ie plan your health care while living with cancer.
The guide was translated by Dr. sc. Dea Ajduković, and the translation was reviewed by Assoc. Dr. sc. Natalija Dedić Plavetić, MD. specialist int. oncology and on behalf of the patients, psychologist Ljiljana Vukota from the SVE za NJU association.
https://www.esmo.org/content/download/131276/2458900/1/ESMO-Vodic-za-Bolesnike-Zivot-s-Rakom.pdf
ESMO Personalized Medicine in Oncology: A Patient Guide
This patient guide was launched by the ESMO Personalized Medicine Working Group to help patients, their family members and friends better understand the factors that can influence the personalized approach to cancer prevention, diagnosis and treatment.
This brochure presents current knowledge about the basic principles of personalized medicine, illustrating its application in several types of tumors. Personalized medicine is the future of cancer treatment, and for it to become a reality in the near future and enable better tumor therapy, the role of the patient is key.
In this approach that is expanding and developing, ESMO is committed to educating patients so that they can better understand its main principles and their own contribution to the progress of therapy.
The Croatian translation of the Guide was made possible by the Association of Women with and Treated for Cancer ALL for HER, based on the approval of the European Society for Medical Oncology (ESMO). The text of the Croatian translation was reviewed by: Prof. Ljiljana Šerman, prof. Floriana Bulić-Jakuš and Mrs. Ljiljana Vukota.
ESMO Immune-Related Adverse Events and their Management: A Guide for Patients
This guide is designed to help you and your family, friends and caregivers better understand and manage the side effects associated with immunotherapy. It provides information on the most common toxicities associated with modern immunotherapies (known as “immune checkpoint inhibitors”), how your oncology team can manage these symptoms, and some approaches you can take yourself to reduce their impact. The medical information described in this document is based on the ESMO Clinical Practice Guidelines for the Management of Toxicities from Immunotherapy, which are designed to assist clinicians in the diagnosis, treatment, and follow-up of these events. All ESMO Clinical Practice Guidelines are prepared and reviewed by leading experts using evidence from the latest clinical trials, scientific research, and expert opinion.
The Croatian translation of the guide was reviewed by: representative of the Croatian Society for Internal Oncology: Assoc. Dr. sc. Natalija Dedić Plavetić, representative of the Croatian Thoracic Society: Prof. Dr. sc. Marko Jakopović, representative of the Association of Women with and Treated for Cancer ALL for HER: Ljiljana Vukota.
ESMO Cancer treatment during the COVID-19 pandemic: A Guide for patients
The guide provides information about the COVID-19 disease and its symptoms, as well as the measures you can take to reduce the risk of infection. Also, the guide provides information about the impact of the COVID-19 pandemic on various aspects of cancer treatment, including possible changes to your treatment plan and medical examinations that may be necessary to protect yourself from infection.
The Croatian translation was reviewed by: Prim. Dr. sc. Paula Podolski, President of the Croatian Senological Society, Assoc. Dr. sc. Borislav Belev, Internist Oncologist, National Representative of the Croatian Society for Internal Oncology at ESMO and Ljiljana Vukota, representative of the SVE za NJU association.
http://www.svezanju.hr/lijecenje-raka-tijekom-pandemije-covid-19-esmo-vodic-za-bolesnike/
ESPEN practical guideline: Clinical Nutrition in cancer
Malnutrition is a frequent finding in cancer patients and is a consequence of the presence of the tumor and medical and surgical anti-cancer treatments.
Malnutrition negatively impacts quality of life and treatment toxicity, and it is estimated that up to 10-20% of cancer patients die from the consequences of malnutrition, and not from the tumor itself. Therefore, nutrition plays a crucial role in the context of multimodal cancer treatment.
Strong evidence shows that nutritional issues should be taken into consideration from the time of cancer diagnosis, within the diagnostic and therapeutic pathway, and should be managed in parallel with anti-neoplastic treatments. However, worldwide, cancer-related malnutrition is still largely under-recognized, under-diagnosed, and under-treated in clinical practice.
These evidence-based guidelines were developed to translate the current best evidence and expert opinion into recommendations for the multidisciplinary teams responsible for the identification, prevention and treatment of reversible elements of malnutrition in adult cancer patients.
Directory of associations that offer supportive activities to cancer patients
Zagreb
Croatian League Against Cancer
Offer: Psychological support, support groups, education, financial assistance.
Contact:
Address: Ilica 197, 10000 Zagreb
Phone: +385 1 3775 572, 099 5361 386
Email: info@hlpr.hr
Web: https://www.hlpr.hr
Institute for Gastroenterological Tumors Association (Iget)
Activities: Counseling, education, campaigns to promote healthy lifestyle habits, connecting patient associations and medical professionals, development of informative content for patients
Contact:
Address: Ilica 197, 10000 Zagreb
Phone: +385 955578 587
Email: info@iget.hr
Web: https://iget.hr
ALL for HER Association
Offer: Psychological support, education, information, support groups.
Contact:
Address: Kneza Mislava 10, 10000 Zagreb
Phone: +38516418765
Email: info@svezanju.hr
Web: http://svezanju.hr
Coalition of Associations in Healthcare (KUZ)
Patient Rights Advocacy: KUZ deals with the protection of patient rights and representing their interests before health institutions.
Education: Organization of workshops and lectures on patient rights.
Public Campaigns: Campaigns to raise awareness about patient rights and better access to healthcare.
Counseling: Providing legal and administrative support to patients.
Contact:
Address: Trpimirova 11, 10000 Zagreb
Phone: +385 1 4572 100
Email: President Ivica Belina: ivica.belina50@gmail.com
Web: https://www.kuz.hr/
Croatian Society of Prostate Cancer Patients (HDBRP)
Activities: Providing psychological support, counseling and information to patients with prostate cancer and their families, organizing lectures, distributing educational materials, and campaigns to raise awareness about the prevention and early detection of prostate cancer, organizing support groups where patients can share their experiences and receive emotional support, campaigns to raise awareness about prostate cancer and the importance of regular check-ups.
Contact:
Address: Ilica 65/1, 10000 Zagreb
Phone: not listed
Email: info@hdbrp.hr
Web: https://www.hdbrp.hr
Association for Thyroid Patients
Activities: Providing individual and group psychological support to patients with thyroid diseases, organizing workshops, lectures, and distributing educational materials about thyroid diseases, counseling and supporting patients in the rehabilitation process after treatment, campaigns to raise awareness about thyroid diseases and the importance of early detection and treatment, information platform that provides advice on nutrition, treatment and symptom management.
Contact:
Address: Frane Petrića Street 5, 10000 Zagreb
Phone: +38513464 723
Email: udruga.stitnjaca@gmail.com
Krijesnica Association
Offer: Psychological support, legal assistance, financial assistance, workshops.
Contact:
Address: Prilaz Gjure Dežalića 50, 10000 Zagreb
Phone: +385 1 3770 477
Email: info@krijesnica.hr
Split-Dalmatia County
County League Against Cancer - Split
Offer: Education, support groups, psychological assistance.
Contact:
Address: Spinčićeva 1, 21000 Split
Phone: 021 556 476
Email: office@zlpr.hr
Web: http://www.zlpr.hr/liga/o-nama
Croatian Association for the Promotion of Patient Rights
Activities: advising on patient rights and assistance in accessing health services, education and information
Contact:
Address: Zrinsko Frankopanska 2b, 21000 Split
Phone: +385915027861
Email: info@pravapacijenata.hr
Web: https://pravapacijenata.hr/
Primorje-Gorski Kotar County
Nada Rijeka Association
Offer: Psychological support, education, workshops.
Contact:
Address: Milana Smokvine Tvrdog 5/1, 51 000 Rijeka
Phone: 051 371 062, 097 613 9715
Email: klub.nada.rijeka@gmail.com
Web: https://klub-nada-rijeka.hr/
Osijek-Baranja County
Mammae Osijek Association
Offer: Psychological support, information, support groups.
Contact:
Address: J. Leovića 4 (“Drava” Health Center), 31000 Osijek
Phone: 031 373366, 091/480-1102
Email: klubmammaeos@gmail.com
Web: https://mammae-klub-osijek.hr/
Istria County
League Against Cancer Pula, Stoma Club Pula
Offer: Education, support for patients, information.
Contact:
Address: Nobileova 1, 52100 Pula
Phone: 052 222 795
Email: liga.protiv.raka@pu.t-com.hr
Web: https://www.ilco.hr/index.php/drustva/pula
Zadar County
League Against Cancer Zadar
Offer: Psychological support, education, information.
Contact:
Address: Veslačka 12, 23000 Zadar
Phone: +38523627 783
Email: info@ligaprotivrakazadar.hr
Web: https://ligaprotivrakazadar.hr/
Šibenik-Knin County
League Against Cancer of the Šibenik-Knin County
Offer: Education, support groups, psychological assistance.
Contact:
Address: Trg Nikole Tomasea 2, 22000 Šibenik
Phone: 022 218993
Email: liga.sibenik@gmail.com
Find them on Facebook League Against Cancer Šibenik-Knin County
Varaždin County
Mammae Varaždin Club Association
Offer: Psychological support, education, workshops.
Contact:
Address: Graberje 33, 42000 Varaždin
Phone: 042/206-900
Email: mammae.klub.varazdin@vz.t-com.hr
Vukovar-Srijem County
League Against Cancer Vinkovci
Offer: Education, support groups, information.
Contact:
Address: Trg bana Josipa Šokčevića 1, 32100 Vinkovci
Find them on Facebook League Against Cancer Vinkovci
Međimurje County
County League Against Cancer Association - Čakovec
Offer: Psychological support, education, information.
Contact:
Address: A. Schulteiss 19, 40000 Čakovec
Phone:
Email: liga.protiv.raka.medjimurje@gmail.com
