Between and within: international perspectives on cancer and health disparities

The purpose of this article is to compare reasons for cancer health disparities in developing and developed countries. By 2010, approximately 60% of new cancer cases will occur in the developing world, higher than rates developed countries. However, disparities exist not only between countries but also within countries. Cancer epidemiology in developing countries is paradoxical: Increased incidence is partially due to increased development resulting in longer life expectancy and unhealthy lifestyle behaviors. Reduced mortality from infectious diseases results in relatively greater mortality from chronic diseases. However, infectious diseases are also risk factors for the leading causes of cancer mortality in these countries. While health disparities in developing versus developed countries are quantitatively worlds apart, they are qualitatively rather similar. They share common causes, such as environmental pollution, the need for social justice, large gaps between the rich and the poor, lack of access to cancer resources, and health services that are available to some but not to all. While industrialization and urbanization elevate a country's economic base while contributing to cancer incidence and mortality. Strategies to reduce international cancer disparities include country- and regional-level interventions, utilizing nongovernmental organizations, and developing long-term inter-institutional partnerships. Although economic aid is undoubtedly necessary, it is not sufficient to control cancer in the developing world. To address these problems, it will be necessary to focus attention on what can be done locally-within countries, not only between countries.