The Cyprus Association of Cancer Patients and Friends

Cyprus Association of Cancer Patients and Friends (PASYKAF), established in 1986, is a voluntary health association dedicated to eliminating cancer through cancer prevention and early diagnosis and improving the quality of life of cancer patients and their families through education, awareness, advocacy and service. 
The Association is a member of international and European cancer organisations such as: International Union Against Cancer (UICC), European Cancer Leagues (ECL), European Cancer Patients’ Coalition (ECPC), IATH and Associate Member of EuropaColon. 

The voice of The Association was first heard through the words of Dr Anna Achilleoudi, founder and the president The Association, who stated in public: 'I am a breast cancer survivor, cancer is curable if early diagnosed and treated. I am a living example'.

Over 3000 cancer patients are newly diagnosed each year in Cyprus, 300 of whom are colorectal cancer patients, therefore indicating the immense need for informative and supportive services to be available to the Cyprus population. We, the people of PASYKAF, offer our services to any patient regardless of nationality, religion, and language.

In pursuit of its mission The Association established services based on European standards which brought comfort, boosted hope whilst maintaining the patient's dignity through the hardship of cancer.  Every year, the multidisciplinary team of The Association provides its services to more than 5,000 patients and their families.


Their objectives were already put in action:

• To enlighten the public with the correct information on matters of prevention and early detection.
• To promote continuous awareness, education and training of medical, paramedical and nursing staff on new developments of cancer diagnosis and treatment.
• To initiate intervention aiming at rehabilitation.
• To provide cancer patients and their families with moral and financial support.
• To struggle for the improvement of cancer diagnostic and treatment services in Cyprus by educating and training both professionals and the public.

All services and support programmes listed below are available in the districts across Cyprus free of charge. 

• Home Nursing Care
• Psychology and Social Support
• Day Care Centres
• Physiotherapy
• Lymphoedema Service
• Post Mastectomy Support
• Transport Service
• Promotion of Public Awareness on cancer prevention
• Campaign for Population Screening Programmes with recent emphasis on the  colon cancer
• Advocacy for Patients’ Rights  
• Education of Health Professionals

 
Progress to Date:

• In 1990, the Psychosocial Support and social rehabilitation service began. 
• Two years later, in 1992, a multi-disciplinary Home Care Service began to operate
• In 1995 the Association established the Physiotherapy Service.
• In 1998 the Day Care Centres were opened - patients can participate in groups and activities which provide companionship, friendship and support.
• In 2005, the Patients' Transport Service provided its service to 465 patients. 
• In 2009, 3501 patients and relatives were the recipients of support, care and help from PASYKAF professionals free of charge.
• In 2013 Promoting Public Awareness involved numerous presentations by health care professionals in companies, schools and municipalities. During ECCAM 2013 targeted presentations took place in the community where the colorectal cancer screening programme using FIT started. PASYKAF involvement was instrumental for the satisfactory response in the following 4-5 months that followed. As a result 25 new cancers have been prevented.
• Various publications relating to health promotion are distributed in local communities through schools and public places.  

Since 2000, systematic awareness campaigns with strong messages in MM and lectures to target groups covered the following topics:

2000 – Sunsmart

2002 – 5 fruit and vegetables a day

2004 – Male Cancer (Testicular & Prostate cancer)

2006– Male Cancer (Testicular & Prostate cancer)

2007 – Prevention and early detection of bowel cancer

2008 – I love my smoke free environment vs. second hand smoking

2009 – I love my healthy and active childhood – Nutrition & Excercise vs. Obesity

2010 – Stop cervical cancer (prevention and early detection)

Summary of National Cancer Plan

National Strategy on Cancer

Telephone / Fax Numbers: 

Nicosia: 22 345444  Fax: 22 346116,
Limassol: 25 747750  Fax: 25 747668
Larnaca:  24 665198  Fax: 24 665193
Paphos: 26 952478  Fax: 26 221986
Paralimni: 23 730460  Fax: 23 740399
Email: [email protected]   
Website: www.pasykaf.org



ECCAM 2014 Progress

• Participation in the national media in various talk shows:
  17/03/2014 – ‘Good Morning’ Talk show CYBC TV 8:30
  18/03/2014 –‘Information Now’ Mega TV 13:15
  19/03/2014 – ‘Cover page’ Sigma TV 8:00
  19/03/2014 – ‘Morning Journeys’ – Third Programme CYBC Radio 8:55
  
  There was a maximum amount of media coverage (TV, Radio and Press) as well as a lot of internal and external communication on ECCAM. Social media such as Facebook was used. 
  
  The Cyprus Gastroenterology Society agreed to offer a number of free colonoscopies with the details still under discussion.

  • Two panel discussions "All we need to know about Colorectal Cancer" in Paphos (one for English speakers and one in Greek) open to the public: very successful with the attendance of 200 people attending including the Mayor
  • Two presentations on prevention and healthy lifestyle stressing the importance of healthy diet, daily exercise and on early diagnosis by appropriate examinations and responding to screening programmes. These were organised with the Parents’ Associations of 2 elementary schools in 2 villages, Droushia and Klirou. Similar presentation was organised for the personnel of the Cyprus University.
  • One intervention in Aradippou, a community in which screening is being run, to encourage people to respond to the invitation by the Ministry of Health, so as to improve the total outcome in response rates.
  • Three Elementary School Presentations (interactive play) followed by fruit, veg and healthy snacks organised by the Health Visitor and the Dietician’s Association
  • Two Preschool Presentations (interactive play)

   
  In total there were:  

• Two panel discussions "All we need to know about Colorectal Cancer" in Paphos (one for English speakers and one in Greek) open to the public: very successful with the attendance of 200 people in total including the Mayor (see the photos, newspaper clippings and the invitation)
• Two presentations on prevention and healthy lifestyle stressing the importance of healthy diet, daily exercise and on early diagnosis by appropriate examinations and responding to screening programmes. These were organized with the Parents’ Associations of 2 elementary schools in 2 villages, Droushia and Klirou. Similar presentation was organised for the personnel of the Cyprus University.
• One intervention in Aradippou, a community in which screening is being run, to encourage people to respond to the invitation by the Ministry of Health, so as to improve the total outcome in response rates.
• Three Elementary School Presentations (interactive play) followed by fruit, veg and healthy snacks organised by the Health Visitor and the Dietician’s Association
• Two Preschool Presentations (interactive play)