On September 20, the World Gynecological Cancer Awareness Day is marked globally. It was established in 2019 on the initiative of the European Society of Gynaecological Oncology (ESGO). The relevance of the issue is highlighted by the fact that more than 1 million women worldwide are diagnosed annually with cervical, ovarian, endometrial, vulvar cancers, etc. This has required the medical community and society to take all possible steps to raise awareness among women regarding prevention, risk factors, early detection, recognition of disease symptoms, and maintaining a healthy lifestyle to preserve their health.

The team of the Department of Oncology of Shupyk National Healthcare University of Ukraine, with the support of Prokip Ivanovych Gordiichuk and the initiative of Nataliia Pavlivna Tsip and Olena Petrivna Manzhura, organized an important and informative event dedicated to this issue. The event brought together oncology department staff, gynecologic oncologists, oncological surgeons, anesthesiologists, nurses, and patients.

The key topics of discussion included prevention, early diagnostics, improving awareness among women, implementation of action algorithms for general healthcare staff and patients in cases of suspected malignant gynecologic pathology, and undoubtedly, the issue of stigma in oncology. Stigma arises due to lack of understanding, fear, or societal prejudices related to the disease.

Stigma in medicine has negative consequences, leading to inequality in access, adherence to treatment, and outcomes. It is crucial for healthcare professionals to recognize these biases and actively counteract them by fostering compassion, supporting patients, and encouraging open and unbiased communication. This helps create a more inclusive and supportive healthcare environment for everyone.