Breast Cancer: Patients in Latvia Will Be Able to Ask Doctors the Most Difficult Questions Anonymously

In October, a series of online meetings will be held in Latvia for women diagnosed with breast cancer. Patients will be able to directly ask doctors questions about diagnosis, treatment, recovery, and the possibility of disease recurrence, and they will be able to do this anonymously. The meetings will take place on October 20 and 27. On each of these days, two discussions are scheduled with the chief specialist in breast surgery at Pauls Stradiņš Clinical University Hospital, Arvids Irmejs, and the oncologist-chemotherapist at Riga East Clinical University Hospital, Signe Plate. Irmejs notes that in recent years, breast cancer treatment has become significantly more precise and individualized. The choice of treatment depends on the subtype of the tumor, its biological characteristics, the stage of the disease, the results of genetic and other studies, as well as the overall health status of the patient. The treatment plan is the result of a joint decision by several specialists. Therefore, according to the doctor, it is important for the patient to understand why this specific treatment strategy is being proposed and how to follow the developed plan. Plate, in turn, emphasizes that today patients have access to support from coordinators, and the possibilities for drug therapy and breast reconstruction have expanded. As the choice of treatment options becomes increasingly complex and individualized, understanding the treatment process and expected outcomes can reduce uncertainty and anxiety, the specialist highlights. On Tuesday, October 20, from 16:00 to 17:30, there will be a discussion titled "I Have Been Diagnosed with Breast Cancer. What Do I Need to Know?" During the meeting, topics such as clarifying the diagnosis, necessary examinations, tumor characteristics, developing a treatment plan, and the patient's further actions will be discussed. On the same day, from 18:00 to 19:30, there will be a discussion titled "I Am Starting Treatment. What Do I Need to Know?" The doctors will talk about the treatment plan, various types of therapy, possible side effects, interaction with the medical team, and available assistance during treatment. On Tuesday, October 27, from 16:00 to 17:30, a discussion titled "Active Treatment Is Completed. What Do I Need to Know?" is scheduled. It will focus on monitoring after treatment completion, continuing prescribed therapy, side effects, physical and emotional recovery, and returning to everyday life. The final meeting, titled "The Disease Has Returned. What Do I Need to Know?" will take place on October 27 from 18:00 to 19:30. It will discuss disease recurrence, necessary examinations, choosing a new treatment plan, available therapy options, symptom control, and quality of life. Registration for participation can be done via email at info@pacientuakademija.lv or by filling out registration forms published on the website of the Disease Prevention and Control Center (SPKC). A significant part of each meeting will be devoted to patients' questions—both those submitted in advance and those asked directly during the live broadcast. Participants will be able to attend the meetings and ask questions while maintaining anonymity. The series of discussions is organized by SPKC in collaboration with Riga East Clinical University Hospital, Pauls Stradiņš Clinical University Hospital, Liepaja Regional Hospital, and Daugavpils Regional Hospital. In addition to online meetings, a series of educational video discussions will be available in October. These will focus on the importance of genetic inheritance and genetic testing, the operation of the "green" and "yellow corridors," dynamic monitoring after active treatment completion, assessing patient experience and well-being using PREM and PROM tools, as well as the opportunities for the patient to reduce the risk of disease recurrence. The videos will be available on the SPKC accounts and the Latvian Oncology Patient Organization Alliance Onkoalianse social media pages, as well as on the pacientuakademija.lv portal. SPKC Director Elina Dimina emphasizes that modern breast cancer treatment cannot be imagined without the involvement of the patient herself. An important part of this involvement is knowledge about the diagnosis, treatment plans, possible therapy courses, and actions in various situations. Therefore, women need to have the opportunity to discuss arising questions with doctors and receive reliable and understandable information. According to SPKC, breast cancer is the most frequently diagnosed malignant tumor in women in Latvia. More than 1,000 women receive such a diagnosis each year. Although there is a state-funded breast cancer screening program in Latvia, last year only **36.7% of women in the target group**—51,189 out of 139,311 women eligible for screening—underwent examination. Of the women who underwent screening, 1,474, or 2.9%, required additional examination. Within 180 days after changes were detected during screening mammography, malignant tumors were diagnosed in 234 women—this is 0.5% of all women who underwent screening. At the same time, **85.5% of detected tumors were diagnosed at stage one or two**. Among women who underwent repeat screening, the proportion of cases detected at stage one or two was even higher—89.5%. SPKC emphasizes that these figures confirm the importance of regular examinations: they allow for the detection of the disease at an early stage and timely initiation of treatment.