The journey of life-saving oncology medication

Delivering cancer medication safely to hospitals and clinics around the world can be a lifeline for patients and lifts a significant burden off the oncology staff who treat them, but it is a complex process to make this happen. Discover what it takes behind the scenes to get these life-saving treatments into the hands of patients who need them most.

Making cancer treatment accessible is a hugely important part of our work. It is vital to ensure that patients have the best chance to fight back against their cancer and go on to live life to the fullest. We provide over 25 types of oncology medication, including medicines to support patients during chemotherapy, such as anti-sickness and anti-viral medication. ?

The process of sending a shipment of oncology medication globally is more complex than most other medical shipments. Using the specialist knowledge of our logistics team, each shipment is carefully managed and thought through. Here is an insight into the process:

Without access to the right medicine and supplies, conditions that are entirely treatable can quickly become life-threatening. Cancer patients can be especially sensitive to treatment delays. Interruptions to treatment cycles due to a lack of access to necessary medicines or chemotherapy can put them at severe risk of their condition rapidly worsening. With the cost of a course of oncology treatment being so high, getting access to medication is often out of reach for many patients who need it the most.

IHP?has supported over 10,400 cancer patients in 15 countries around the world with access to their treatments.

"Here [in the hospital], I'm satisfied with everything I get. They have all the medicines in stock. If I had to cover myself financially, then I wouldn't even be able to afford it." – Anatoliy, a cancer patient living in Ukraine –

Once these cancer treatments arrive safely at the hospital or clinic, they can be used straight away to treat patients. One such location is Ukraine, where IHP partners with Project HOPE, providing medications such as Bortezomib to treat myelomas, lymphomas, leukaemia, breast, bladder and prostate cancers, as well as treatments to prevent nausea and vomiting caused by cancer chemotherapy, radiation therapy, or surgery.

Life can change in an instant, but when war descends on your country,?life can?turn upside down. For Anatoliy?(pictured above), who lives in northeast Ukraine, the changes and challenges he is facing are hard to imagine.

“It’s a sad city now, which is subjected to daily bombardment,” Anatoliy speaks of his home as he reflects on the memories of his love for sailing before the war. “It’s been almost 20 years since this sport fascinated me…all that went away.” Anatoyli would often be found sailing on a nearby dam, which has now been destroyed by shelling.

"You go to bed not knowing if you'll wake up tomorrow. My friends have left, and when they came back, their home has been ruined. Many people cannot bear the explosions, emotionally and psychologically."

Before the beginning of the conflict, Anatoliy was receiving treatment for his cancer. One of the main casualties of the war has been Ukraine's health infrastructure, where?over 2,200 attacks on healthcare has been reported since February 2022, leaving?serious concerns?over the delivery of treatment for?chronic diseases like cancer?in the country. Anatoliy went for months, unsure about the future of his treatment "I could not walk well,” he told us. “I was short of breath. Then I started bleeding. At that time, I was admitted to the hospital."

There was no specialised facility in his community, so Anatoliy was referred to a medical centre which was supported by IHP with shipments of cancer treatment; given to patients free-of-charge. ?

"Here [in hospital] I'm satisfied with everything I get. They have all the medicines in stock,”?Anatoliy told us, he is now responding well to his treatment. “All the medicines and necessary treatments are available for me, so I don't feel financially burdened. The treatment is not cheap at all, I could not have afforded it on my own. So I am happy for the help.”

Your support protects the lives of patients like Anatoliy in their time of need. Ensuring we can continue to provide the shipments that keep stock levels up for vital treatments and make medication free of charge for all patients.

Together, we are reducing the suffering and mortality rates for people fighting their cancer in some of the most vulnerable countries: Click here to donate towards our work.