Vacation is over, and you are still tired? Could the reason be an altered blood count?

“Due to different reasons, patients with certain types of blood cancers and blood disorders often face a late diagnosis. This makes treatment and recovery more difficult. It decreases the quality of their life during and after treatment. Life with a chronic disease becomes harder. If detected late, it becomes less likely to successfully treat the disease, and the treatment itself is more exhausting and prolonged. Recovery becomes more challenging and often physically and emotionally stressful,” said the Executive Director of the Slovenian Lymphoma and Leukemia Patients Association, L&L, Kristina  Modic.

Jožica Filipčič, President of the Association of Patients with Blood Diseases Slovenia, pointed out that all patients must have access to health services. Lately, they notice access to personal physicians is limited.

“Many people today have a hard time accessing their personal physician. Some of them don’t even have one. Getting to a specialist becomes a greater challenge. Be persistent and take your symptoms seriously. When you notice problems, call or write to your personal physician,” she advised.

“Blood disease patients in Slovenia are taken good care of”

Treatment of patients with blood cancers and blood disorders in Slovenia is performed in accordance with modern guidelines.

“Blood disease patients in Slovenia are taken good care of. All medications are available to them. Their treatment proceeds smoothly. It is important to recognize blood disorders by using the medical record, clinical picture and basic lab tests – every Slovenian health center provides this service. No excuses,”

said Prof. Samo Zver, PhD, internist and hematologist, Head of the Clinical Department of Hematology of the Internal Clinic at the University Medical Center Ljubljana.

Prof. Irena Preložnik Zupan, PhD, internist and hematologist at the Clinical Department of Hematology of the Internal Clinic at the University Medical Center Ljubljana, gave the following statement:

“Blood disorders vary and are many. Their symptoms and signs are different, too. Blood disorders derive from bone marrow. Blood is formed there. This is why sooner or later patients experience a change in their blood count. This affects their wellbeing and health. It leads to anemia, which makes us tired, sleepy, unproductive. We are more prone to infections, spontaneous bleedings, excessive bleedings or thromboses. If we notice any of these symptoms, we need to visit the doctor immediately and ask him for a checkup and laboratory blood test.”

Jana Pahole, MD, specialist in internal oncology at the Department of Lymphoma Treatment at the Institute of Oncology Ljubljana stressed out that lymphomas have a plethora of symptoms and signs.

“The most typical are enlarged lymph nodes in the neck, armpits or groin, and a group of problems called B symptoms, which include involuntary weight loss, night sweat, severe fatigue and increased body temperature without clear cause, which often occurs late afternoon or in the evening and then spontaneously drops. We talk about night sweat when due to sweating in the upper part of the body one must change their clothes more than once,” she explained.

The important role of family physicians in an early detection of blood disorders

Family physicians have a huge role in an early detection of blood disorders.

“We need to be careful with people who describe unexplained prolonged fatigue, night sweats, frequent infections, difficulty stopping the bleeding, weight loss, skin changes or mucous membrane changes and painless enlargement of the lymph nodes. Detection is often facilitated by a precise medical record and longtime familiarity with our patients, but the most important is a blood test and, if needed, further diagnostic evaluation. When we detect the characteristic deviations, we need to cooperate quickly and efficiently with other specialists and monitor the patient,”

said Vesna Pekarović Džakulin, MD, family physician, specialist in occupational, traffic and sport medicine at the Diagnostic Center Šentjur and Vice President of the European Union of General Practitioners (UEMO). She also mentioned the difficult period in which the patient awaits test results:

“In that period, the patient needs the support of the entire medical staff. They must be able to communicate using simple and understandable language. We must be aware how important it is that patients feel comfortable in our presence.”

Jana Pahole pointed out that the personal physician can contribute a lot to an early diagnosis of the lymphoma with an accurate medical record.

“By taking the problems described by the patient seriously, especially in the case of a young patient. The doctor must refer the patient to further diagnostics and a secondary medical facility when needed,” she explained.

We provide state-of-the-art therapies to Slovenian patients

We provide state-of-the-art therapies to Slovenian patients with blood cancers and blood disorders. The progress in hematological disease treatment, from targeted therapies and precision cell and gene therapies to immunotherapy, brings new hope to blood cancer and blood disease patients.

“Numerous research is taking place around the world in the field of hematology. Many new medications are produced each year. They are increasingly oriented towards genetic targets or the immune system and an individual approach to each patient. Patients can truly be optimistic,”

gave a positive message Prof. Irena Preložnik Zupan, PhD.

“This year, there are some novelties in the field of lymphoma treatment as well. Our patients have available new combinations of therapies and individual active ingredients, which have demonstrated good results in the studies,” added Jana Pahole.

Each year in Slovenia we notice an increased incidence of blood disorders

Blood cancers and blood disorders occur in all age groups. They affect one or more elements of the blood, such as erythrocytes, leukocytes, platelets and plasma. This means that blood is unable to perform all its functions the way it should.

Many people in Europe are affected by blood cancers and blood disorders. In 2019, blood cancers caused the death of 154 000 Europeans. This is 8% of all deaths due to cancer in Europe.¹ In Slovenia, we notice an increasing incidence of blood disorders. Blood cancers and blood disorders can be a grave burden for the patients – up to 82% of blood cancer patients have symptoms that impede their everyday life.² It is evaluated that the total economic cost of all blood disorders and blood cancers in Europe amounts to 23 billion Euro.³

“The diagnosis of cancer strongly changes a person’s life. At the same time, it strongly influences their social environment, family, friends, coworkers and other people in their life. Cancer is no longer a huge personal problem limited to a person and their close ones. It is a problem of the broader society. It is a modern public health issue. This is why raising awareness about blood cancer is extremely important,”

said Kristina Modic. The Slovenian Lymphoma and Leukemia Patients Association, L&L, in cooperation with oncologists and hematologists each year prepares a high-profile campaign to raise awareness about blood cancer symptoms among professional and general public. The campaign contributes to an early detection of the disease and provides a better quality of life to blood cancer patients.

Jožica Filipčič warned about the fear of the unknown. It is the reason why some patients postpone visiting their doctor.

“Often people who notice signs cannot visit their doctor due to psychological reasons. They fear something bad, unknown, negative. But we must be aware that an early detection of the disease makes it easier to manage. Treatment becomes less grueling. Chances for survival increase. If you can’t do it alone, seek out help,”

suggested the President of the Association of Patients with Blood Diseases Slovenia. Among the numerous activities of the association is the program Bolnik – bolniku (Patient to Patient). In this program former patients communicate with patients and their relatives. They answer numerous questions based on their personal experience. 

You can find the programs of both associations, dedicated to blood cancer and blood disorder patients, on the websites of the Association of Patients with Blood Diseases Slovenia and the Slovenian Lymphoma and Leukemia Patients Association, L&L.

Blood Cancers Awareness Month 2022

After last year’s high-profile campaign, which we used to raise awareness among the Slovenian public about the great burden of blood cancers and blood disorders, today’s press conference marks the beginning of Blood Cancers Awareness Month 2022. The campaign is once again set up with the Association of Patients with Blood Diseases Slovenia and the Slovenian Lymphoma and Leukemia Patients Associations, L&L, with the professional support of hematologists and oncologists. The campaign was made possible by Novartis.

This year we focus on the following blood disorders: follicular lymphoma, chronic myeloid leukemia (CML) and graft versus host disease (GVHD).

In September, numerous activities will take place across Slovenia. They will stress the importance of an early detection and treatment of blood cancers and blood disorders. Find the event calendar in the attachment..