Leading oncology organizations respond to global cancer crisis

2011 ASCO Annual Meeting

CHICAGO — In April, WHO reported that non-communicable diseases account for 63% of deaths globally each year, and 7.6 million of those deaths are from cancer. Now, leaders from ASCO, the American Cancer Society and the Union for International Cancer Control are reaching out in advance of the upcoming UN High-level Meeting on Non-communicable Diseases in an effort to put cancer on the global health agenda.

For the first time since the HIV/AIDS Summit in 2001, and only the second time in history, the UN will host a health-related meeting for the world’s leaders. The Meeting on Non-communicable Diseases is a once-in-a-lifetime opportunity to affect and improve the lives of millions of patients around the world, according to ASCO CEO, Allen S. Lichter, MD.

Lichter highlighted ASCO’s efforts to make cancer care more accessible to those in developing countries. However, he stressed the importance of the support of world leaders to really make a difference in the future of cancer.

“We will continue to work with our members in over 100 countries to get the knowledge and resources to where they are needed, but we know our efforts alone are not enough,” Lichter said during the presentation. “To really impact the cancer epidemic will require the attention of the world’s leaders; they are the ones who can truly make prevention and treatment of cancer a global health priority.”

Today ASCO delivered a letter to the White House with signatures from about 12 major US medical professional societies, representing about 300,000 physician members, nurses and health care professionals. The letter asks President Obama to personally attend the UN Summit in the hope that his presence will send a clear message about the importance of these efforts and will demonstrate the US’s dedication to combating the disease.

Angel Sanchez, MD, ASCO International Cancer Corps volunteer, described the current situation in Honduras. According to statistics — which do not represent all of the patients suffering from cancer — there are more than 700 new cancer cases each year per two oncologists. In addition, resources are limited and most patients present with advanced, inoperable disease, though skilled surgeons are prevalent throughout the region, he said. Progress can be made by educating the public, as well as doctors, according to Sanchez, who invoked John Lennon when stating, “there are no problems, only solutions.”

The American Cancer Society has also ramped up its efforts in a number of ways, including establishing a grassroots network of cancer survivors who can share their stories of how the disease has affected their lives. The program will help put a face on the global cancer crisis, according to American Cancer Society CEO, John R. Seffrin, PhD. The website — www.global.cancer.org — is set to launch in 2 weeks, but a preview version is available now.

“Working together we can and need to create a sense of urgency,” Seffrin said. “Now is our moment, we can intervene and make a lifesaving historic difference in the global fight against cancer.” – by Stacey L. Fisher

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Presented at: 2011 ASCO Annual Meeting; Chicago; June 3-7, 2011.

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