Cancer management in the Pacific region: a report on innovation and good practice

Ekeroma, Alec; Dyer, R. E.; Palafox, Neal A.; Maoate, Kiki; Skeen, Jane; Foliaki, Sunia; Vallely, Andrew; Fong, James; Hibma, Merilyn; Mola, Glen; Reichhardt, Martina; Taulung, Livinston; Aho, George; Fakakovikaetau, Toakase; Watters, David; Toliman, Pamela J; Buenconsejo-Lum, Lee; Sarfati, Diana

doi:10.1016/s1470-2045(19)30414-0

Cited by 20 publications

(19 citation statements)

References 34 publications

Supporting

Mentioning

Contrasting

Order By: Relevance

“…This is also true for the South Pacific island where children are referred to Australia and New Zealand for care. 31 A landlocked country like Lichtenstein refers their pediatric oncology patients to neighboring countries. Yet this is true for Chad, a resource-limited setting, that is, a large country without services.…”

Section: Discussionmentioning

confidence: 99%

Reporting Incidences of Neuroblastoma in Various Resource Settings

Heerden

Abraham

Schoeman

et al. 2021

JCO Global Oncology

View full text Add to dashboard Cite

PURPOSE The incidences of neuroblastoma (NB) differ significantly between various resource settings because of varying quality of cancer registries and underdiagnoses. This study aimed to evaluate current regional variations as reported by international cancer registries and the theoretical and reported differences in international NB incidences and to evaluate South Africa (SA) as a case for variable reporting. METHODS A comprehensive literature review on registries reporting on NB was performed to construct incidence tables. The SEER Program incidence of 10.5/million children was used to calculate the expected number of NB cases for each country. Registry data of NB cases between 2000 and 2016 were requested from The South African National Cancer registry (SA-NCR) and the South African Children's Tumour Registry (SACTR) for comparison and to perform a probabilistic linkage study. RESULTS Internationally, incidences varied between –97.1% and +80% compared with the SEER program. SA under-reported NB cases by an estimated 74.2%. Between 2000 and 2016, the SA-NCR reported between 23 and 51 cases/year, whereas the SACTR reported between 18 and 57 cases/year for the same period. The incidence reported by the SA-NCR varied between 1.5 and 2.8/million children under 15-year per year, whereas the SACTR reported 1.74-2.6 cases/million children. Both registries reported incidences less than high-income country. A probabilistic record linkage of the two registries resulted in a combined incidence of 2.9 cases/million children. CONCLUSION As with most low- and middle-income countries, SA has either a lower incidence or underdiagnoses of NB cases. The reasons for under-reporting are not clear, but can be due to undiagnosed NB cases with spontaneous regression, missed possible cases because of lack of autopsies, and diagnosed cases not recorded in registries.

show abstract

Section: Discussionmentioning

confidence: 99%

Reporting Incidences of Neuroblastoma in Various Resource Settings

Heerden

Abraham

Schoeman

et al. 2021

JCO Global Oncology

View full text Add to dashboard Cite

show abstract

“…1 Research into collaborative efforts in the PICTs to increase the capacity of cancer services has been suggested to develop an approach guided by principles of partnership, cost-effectiveness, addressing health inequities, building workforce capacity and ensuring sustainability. 21 The success of the collaborative regional models, however, is dependent on strong political will, committed leadership and advocacy by health experts with recognition of huge geographical and cultural diversity of the PICT population. Establishment of new RT facilities have seen an increase in RT utilisation in the high-income countries 22 and comparable improvements have been anticipated in the low-and middle-income countries that are experiencing increasingly high demand of services.…”

Section: Discussionmentioning

confidence: 99%

Radiotherapy service need in the Pacific Island countries

Shafiq

Gabriel

Bartoň

2020

Asia-Pac J Clncl Oncology

View full text Add to dashboard Cite

Background: Pacific Island Countries and Territories (PICTs) have experienced an increase in cancer burden in the recent years. There is need for major investments in the cancer treatment facilities including radiotherapy (RT).Aims: This study aimed to provide a quantitative estimation of the effect of establishing new RT facilities on patient access through Geographic Information System (GIS) modelling of population density and service availability to assess the best location for a new RT centre when there are multiple competing locations. Methods: Methods involved cancer epidemiological data collection and assessing RT demand (proportion needing RT) in 2040, assessment of current RT facilities meeting the demand, GIS-based assessment of minimal travel distance in relation to RT demand and scenario-based location planning with adoption of the principles of efficiency, availability and equity for establishment of suitability of new RT facilities. Results: In 2040, three highest new cancer case projections are for Papua New Guinea (PNG) (22662), Fiji ( 2058) and New Caledonia (2037). Twenty-nine megavoltage machines (MVMs) are needed to meet adequate RT demand with three existing in New Caledonia, Guam and French Polynesia meeting 2-6% demand. PNG with highest RT demand of 68% and Fiji with second highest (6%) demand are found as the choice venues for maximum accessibility of cancer population within the PICTs. Conclusion:The travel distance-based GIS modelling estimation of establishment of new RT facilities will provide useful information for planning of RT services in the PICTS with improved patient outcome.

show abstract

“…43 The growing burden of cancer, and challenges facing detection, treatment and palliation in small island states merited two papers in Lancet Global Health that presenting a Pacific perspective. 44,45 Procedural specialties and society partnerships RACS scholarships 35 and specialist associations (Table 2) have long supported leadership training and subspecialty development throughout the Pacific region particularly in paediatric, orthopaedics, urology, ophthalmology, otolaryngology and neurosurgery. The specialists trained are taking a leading role in advocacy for the needs of their patients and specialty both nationally and internationally.…”

Section: Surgical Metrics and Pomrmentioning

confidence: 99%

“…Lessons learned from the introduction of emergency medicine specialists and their training in PNG, 41,42 informed a successful and rapid implementation in Myanmar 43 . The growing burden of cancer, and challenges facing detection, treatment and palliation in small island states merited two papers in Lancet Global Health that presenting a Pacific perspective 44,45 …”

Section: Surgical Metrics and Pomrmentioning

confidence: 99%

Advocacy for global surgery: a Pacific perspective

Watters

Tangi

Guest

et al. 2020

ANZ Journal of Surgery

Self Cite

View full text Add to dashboard Cite

Background The geographic region of the South Pacific covers a third of the globe, much of which is ocean, the world's largest geographic feature, spanning 155 km 2. The ocean expanse is scattered with numerous Pacific Island countries and territories (which fall into three main political groups, whose connections are historical, political and/or economic; Table 1). They represent nations generally with small populations but with the least access to safe, affordable and timely surgery in the world, partly as a result of their geography as well as their stage of economic development. This paper describes how the Royal Australasian College of Surgeons (RACS) and the Pacific region have been involved with global surgery and anaesthesia advocacy since 2012. This has included engagement with the World Health Organization (WHO) in Geneva, their Global Initiative for Emergency and Essential Surgery (GIEESC) and WHO's Western Pacific Region Organization (WPRO). The paper focuses on the Pacific Island countries with which RACS, and the Australian and New Zealand College of Anaesthetists (ANZCA), have established relationships and a history of engagement in supporting local agendas for capacity building. The Colleges engage not only in partnership with universities and health departments, but also collaborates with other Australian and New Zealand specialist medical colleges, and their Pacific or Papua New Guinea (PNG) surgical and anaesthesia counterpart associations (Table 2). Although Timor Leste falls outside of the WPRO, the clinical networks and partnerships established through RACS and the other colleges justify including their role in this account of regional advocacy.

show abstract

Cancer management in the Pacific region: a report on innovation and good practice

Cited by 20 publications

References 34 publications

Reporting Incidences of Neuroblastoma in Various Resource Settings

Reporting Incidences of Neuroblastoma in Various Resource Settings

Radiotherapy service need in the Pacific Island countries

Advocacy for global surgery: a Pacific perspective

Contact Info

Product

Resources

About