site.btaTen Bulgarians Diagnosed with Cancer Daily

Ten Bulgarians Diagnosed with Cancer Daily

Sofia, February 4 (BTA) - Ten Bulgarians are diagnosed with
cancer on a daily basis, Valentin Angelov, Director of the
Specialized Hospital for Active Treatment of Cancer, said. The
hospital signed contract on the supply of high-tech equipment
on Wednesday, when the international community observed World
Cancer Day. The project is implemented within the European
initiative, Joint European Support for Sustainable Investment in
City Areas (JESSICA), and is of the worth of 5.5 million leva.
Half of the funds come as a loan from JESSICA and the rest -
from the Fund for Sustainable Urban Development of Sofia.

According to data of the National Cancer Register, in 2012, the
newly registered cancer patients numbered 36,649, as 54 per cent
of them were men. The cancer formation was found in the lungs
in the highest number of male patients, while breast cancer was
with the highest occurrence among female patients.

In 2013 and 2014, the National Health Insurance Fund spent 116
million leva and 212 million leva, respectively, for cancer
medicines. These costs increased by 40 per cent in the past
three years, said Angelov. One third of the cancer cases are
detected in an advanced stage, which leads to high mortality
compared to the other European countries, he noted.