CANCER CONTROL
5 CANCER CONTROL 2021
Welcome to Cancer Control 2021
Our interview with Dr Andre Ilbawi does much to
widen our horizons by considering the patient
experience and how, perhaps, the clinical "War on
Cancer" should be tempered by the other levers that are
required to move forward. Not least those coming from the
patient experience which may seem disconnected from such a
bellicose approach. Smita Srinivas, from the Open University
in the United Kingdom, also raises doubts the rhetoric of
the "War on Cancer" and suggest that we should look at the
economic concepts that drive healthcare and bring in some
new perspectives.
A good illustration of how networks can be used is provided
by the SIOP Global Mapping Programme for paediatric cancer
in Africa. In this article, we break format as individual members
of the programme focus on the areas that they had charge of
which range from limited access to cancer care, establishing
cancer societies, national cancer registries and many more.
Here, we see the power of a network bringing results.
But where do networks come from? Another of our articles
looks at the experiences of three different cancer network: the
UK Global Cancer Network, which is mapping links between
UK professionals and LMICs; the Canadian Global Cancer
Network and the City Cancer Challenge, launched by the
UICC in 2017. Their experiences, will be helpful and inspiring
for those seeking to establish the cancer networks they argue
are so necessary.
Keeping an eye on emerging problems is also important
when all eyes are focuse on one crisis. The UICC issue a timely reminder that we must take notice of growing antimicrobial
resistance which poses a complex array of problems for those
treating, and suffering, from cancer. Something we have been
following in depth in our sister publication AMR Control (http://
resistancecontrol.info/). We, also, have a report from Dr Ibtihal
Fadhil on the Eastern Mediterranean Region, which has been
hit by many geo-political problems beside COVID-19, which
are not fully appreciated. Cancer Control will be publishing
a special report on the region by the same author which will
amplify what is discussed.
Finally, we should not forget research in these times and
therefore we have re-established our R&D chapter with two
articles: one looking at the developing VENUSCANCER study
on disparities in women's globally and another from the Dr
Badel in the Caribbean looking at the racial content of cell lines
and how it needs to be improved to achieve better outcomes. n
We would be delighted to have your feedback at cancercontrol@
globalhealthdynamics.co.uk. Please visit our website www.
cancercontrol.info for updates and also to find out more information
about INCTR and its programmes, as well as how to join.
Dr Ian Magrath, Editor-in-Chief, Cancer Control and President,
International Network for Cancer Treatment and Research.
Tim Probart, MA, Publisher, Cancer Control and CEO, Global
Health Dynamics.
The COVID-19 pandemic is far from over, but healthcare professionals and policymakers are starting to look
towards the way forward for cancer care, which has suffered as healthcare resources have been diverted to
communicable diseases. In this edition look at the wider issues facing global health perspectives at this time:
a more holistic approach to global cancer care; the need for networks that pool all the resources available
(think of COVID-19) to improve cancer care in LMICs; to look at the emerging threats that cancer control
faces; and finally, not to neglect R&D.