Cancer control in Africa: surgery

Area of Science:

• Oncology
• Surgical Sciences
• Global Health

Background:

• Surgery is fundamental to cancer treatment, impacting millions of cases annually.
• Limited access to cancer surgery and inadequate adjuncts (anesthesia, pathology, imaging) hinder optimal care globally.
• Over 80% of cancer cases require surgical intervention, highlighting its essential role.

Purpose of the Study:

• To underscore the critical need for accessible and high-quality cancer surgery worldwide.
• To identify key challenges in delivering cancer surgical care across diverse resource settings.
• To propose solutions for scaling up and improving global cancer surgical systems.

Main Methods:

• This study is a review and analysis of the current state of global cancer surgery.
• It synthesizes data on cancer incidence, surgical needs, and access disparities.
• It evaluates existing challenges in anesthesia, pathology, and imaging support for cancer surgery.

Main Results:

• A significant proportion of cancer patients lack access to necessary surgical treatment.
• Inadequate infrastructure and resources for adjunct modalities further compromise cancer care.
• The need for surgical intervention affects over 80% of the 18.1 million annual cancer cases.

Conclusions:

• Enhancing global cancer care necessitates prioritizing safe, affordable, and timely surgical access for all patients.
• Systemic improvements require strengthened public health systems, international collaboration, and specialized training programs.
• Integrating surgical services into national cancer control plans is essential for equitable outcomes.