The article presents materials of the conducted research devoted to the reflection of materials displaying the struggle against malignant neoplasms in philatelic means. By means of stamps, blocks and envelopes modern means of diagnostics and treatment of cancer diseases, different types of malignant neoplasms are shown, portraits of scientist’s oncologists are presented.

Materials and methods

In carrying out this research work, we used the method of literary and critical analysis of available scientific sources of information on the issue under study, using catalogs, specialized periodicals, encyclopedias, directories, Internet resources. When conducting this research work and writing this article, the author used such methods of research as the selection of thematic (domestic and foreign) sources of information, and their literary and critical analysis. Articles in various publications, both review and analytical-critical, reference books and encyclopedic editions, including data on the topic under study, taken from a variety of, often foreign, Internet sources, were studied.  Also, on the use of thematic, various means of collecting (for example, philately and philocarty - postage stamps, envelopes, blocks, cartomaxims, postage stamps of special stamping, post cards, etc.) and numismatics (commemorative table medals, commemorative coins, coin tokens, etc.), the author has extensively used thematic philatelic, philatelic and philocratic coins. The author made active use of philatelic, philocardic and numismatic catalogs, reference books, periodicals and special literature containing necessary data on the subject studied by the author.

The purpose of this article is to present to the interested reader the results of the research conducted on the study of the representation in various media of the world philately of collectible materials, thematically directly related to oncology, the scientific feat of famous scientists and doctors oncologists, as well as reflecting the diagnosis, treatment and prevention of various oncological diseases.

At the beginning of the article, we would like to present the methods used in oncology to diagnose different types of malignant tumors. These include the famous PAP test, which has been used in cervical cancer screening for several decades. This method was proposed by the Greek cytologist Georgos Papanicolaou. Thanks to his discovery millions of women's lives have been saved and this method is still used in all countries of the world as a means of early cervical cancer diagnosis [1-3, 6]. Figure 1 shows the collection of materials devoted to G. Papanicolaou [1-6].

figure 1

Figure 1. Collection materials devoted to G. Papanicolaou

Also relevant and ubiquitous are methods of early diagnosis of breast cancer, such as self-examination with breast examination, and mammography. Philatelic materials reflecting methods of breast cancer diagnostics are shown in Fig. 2 [1-6].

figure 2

Fig. 2. Materials devoted to the diagnosis of breast cancer

The following selection of postage stamps, Fig. 3, shows images of modern microscopes, including electronic, which are actively used in modern oncology, in the diagnosis of malignant tumors and in cytological research [4-7].

Figure 3. The use of microscopes and cytology in cancer diagnosis

Fig. 4 shows a colorful philatelic collection with postage stamps and KPDs of different countries, which presents modern methods of computed tomography (CT) and nuclear magnetic resonance (NMR), actively used around the world for the diagnosis of tumor processes in humans [4-6].

figure 4

Figure 4. Current methods of cancer diagnosis and detection

Fig. 5 shows a selection of postage stamps from different countries, which depict a method of radiation treatment of malignant neoplasms of various etiology, actively used in modern radiology [4-6].

figure 5

Figure 5. Radiation therapy of tumors in the reflection of philately

Also, there are philatelic materials devoted to lung cancer, some of which are shown in Fig. 6 [4-6].

Figure 6. Philatelic materials devoted to lung cancer

That's the end of the II parts of the article, which is devoted to the reflection of diagnosis and treatment of malignant neoplasms, in the reflection of a number of collection tools. The next, III part of article will be devoted to reflection of problems of oncology on badges.

1. Modern means of philately, bonistics, numismatics and faleristics, in a significant volume, brightly and variously represent different aspects of the study, diagnosis, prevention and treatment of most cancers.

2. The materials of the study presented in this article can be used for practical application in the study of oncology and radiology in medical educational institutions of different levels.