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Global pediatric radiation therapy in resource‐limited settings
Author(s) -
Hess Clayton B.,
Parkes Jeannette,
Janssens Geert O.,
Lin Chi,
Wong Kenneth,
Zaghloul Mohamed S.,
Marconi Daniel G.,
Boterberg Tom,
Esiashvili Natia
Publication year - 2021
Publication title -
pediatric blood and cancer
Language(s) - English
Resource type - Journals
SCImago Journal Rank - 1.116
H-Index - 105
eISSN - 1545-5017
pISSN - 1545-5009
DOI - 10.1002/pbc.28299
Subject(s) - medicine , low and middle income countries , radiation therapy , radiation oncology , pediatric cancer , global health , childhood cancer , pediatric oncology , developing country , family medicine , intensive care medicine , economic growth , cancer , environmental health , nursing , public health , surgery , economics
This report provides a summary of the global burden of childhood cancer morbidity and mortality, which disproportionately affects low‐ and middle‐income countries as well as low‐ and middle‐income communities within high‐income countries. We review past successes and current challenges to improving clinical pediatric radiotherapy, education, and research in these regions. The Pediatric Radiation Oncology Society Taskforce in Low‐ and Middle‐Income Countries recently outlined specific aims: (a) to increase access and quality of radiotherapy for children and adolescents afflicted with cancer; (b) to enumerate, engage, and educate a global community of providers of childhood and adolescent radiotherapy; and (c) to create evidence establishing the outcomes of setting‐specific treatment standards of care when first‐world standards are not achievable. This report will improve awareness of these disparities and promote attempts to correct them.