Union for International Cancer Control (UICC)

A person’s socioeconomic circumstances often determine can impact their risk of cancer, their chances of survival and quality of life. The resulting inequities in health must be addressed so that everyone can attain the highest possible standard of health. This report provides an in-depth look at how health inequity can be addressed through advocacy and action. It analyses a number of social determinants that create inequities between populations and how they can lead to poorer health outcomes

An estimated 311,000 women die from cervical cancer every year. This is an avoidable tragedy because we know how to prevent cervical cancer and we have the tools to overcome the social, economic, and political disadvantages that contribute to disparities in cervical cancer incidence and mortality.

Radiotherapy is an essential component of care for the most common cancers globally. Achieving equity in access is imperative - 80% of the world’s cancer patients are in low- and middle- income countries (LMICs), but have access to only 5% of global radiotherapy resources. By 2035, models suggest that 12 million patients per year in LMICs would benefit from radiotherapy. Investment in meeting radiotherapy needs has the potential to return USD 278.1 billion net in benefits and save 26.9 million life years for an investment of USD 184 billion. The cost of inadequately treated cancer had already reached USD 895 billion in 2010. The associated upfront costs of developing radiotherapy services are expected to be recouped within 10-15 years in LMICs.

A list of ICCP related sessions during the World Cancer Congress in Paris 31 October - 3 November 2016. 

Improving access to palliative care in the Democratic Republic of Congo / Promotion et l’accès des patients aux soins palliatifs en République démocratique du Congo

Improving access to palliative care in the Democratic Republic of Congo

Despite the preventable nature of invasive cervical cancer, nearly 70,000 new cases and more than

28,000 deaths occur annually in the Latin American and the Caribbean (LAC) region placing

cervical cancer incidence and mortality second highest among cancers in women in the region.

Infection with human papillomavirus (HPV) is associated with virtually all cervical cancers.

Approximately 5 to 10% of women infected with high-risk HPV types develop persistent infections,

which can lead to precancerous lesions; HPV types 16 and 18 are associated with about 70% of

cervical cancers. The long delay between time of infection and development of cancer explains the

effectiveness of screening as a prevention strategy. Vaccination of adolescent girls against HPV

and screening of women are the best ways of preventing this disease. Cytology-based screening

programmes have been implemented in most of the LAC region, but the success of these

programmes has been very limited.