GMKA Develops Cancer Communication Guide for Ukraine’s National Education Platform
Global Medical Knowledge Alliance (GMKA) has developed a practical guide to accurate, sensitive, and stigma-free cancer communication for Diia.Education, a national educational initiative of Ukraine’s Ministry of Digital Transformation with more than 2.8 million registered users. The collaboration brings GMKA’s evidence-based expertise to a wider audience and supports the organization’s broader mission to strengthen medical education and cancer care in Ukraine.
More than 1.1 million people in Ukraine are living with cancer, yet public communication still often includes myths, stigma, inaccurate terminology, and stereotypical imagery. The new guide helps media professionals, healthcare workers, communicators, and civil society organizations communicate about cancer more accurately and responsibly.
“The way we talk about cancer can influence how people understand the disease, prevention, screening, and treatment, as well as how society views people with cancer. We created this guide to provide practical tools for communication grounded in scientific evidence and respect for the individual,” said Inesa Huivaniuk, MD, MPA, surgical oncologist and Co-Executive Director of GMKA.
The guide covers medical accuracy, person-centered language, visual ethics, the responsible use of statistics and patient stories, and communication in sensitive contexts such as awareness campaigns, fundraising, public figures’ diagnoses, and deaths from cancer.
It also includes practical wording examples, a glossary, and checklists for reviewing materials before publication.
It also includes practical wording examples, a glossary, and checklists for reviewing materials before publication.
The collaboration with Diia.Education is part of GMKA’s broader commitment to making high-quality medical knowledge accessible and translating evidence into practice. Alongside its work in oncology education, research, and international collaboration, the guide extends GMKA’s impact into the public information space, helping make conversations about cancer more accurate, responsible, and person-centered.