Clinical epidemiology of childhood cancer in Central America and Caribbean countries

Abstract

The yield of diagnostic-therapeutic protocols depends largely on the context of care in which they are applied. This paper documents the importance of including epidemiological research in interventions for cooperation in complex health areas such as pediatric oncology.

The treatment of childhood acute lymphoblastic leukemia in Guatemala: Biologic features, treatment hurdles, and results

“…The incidence of treatment abandonment has been reduced from 23.4% in the 1990s to 2.7% in the current study. This was obtained thanks to a strong intervention by the psychosocial service, which was able to classify the living conditions of patients at the time of diagnosis and to provide support, including a family food bag, money for travel, housing for parents, and other support as needed, together with a program for parents' education to improve their understanding of the disease, special care needs, administration of oral chemotherapy, etc.…”

Asociación de Hemato-Oncología Pediátrica de Centro América (AHOPCA): A model for sustainable development in pediatric oncology

“…A contribution of singular importance has been the development of Pediatric Oncology Networked Database (POND) that began as a simple registry and has undergone stepwise expansion to include delivery of protocol‐based care, outcome evaluation and assessment of psychosocial support . POND is central to the success of AHOPCA and is complemented by epidemiological and biostatistical support from the Department of Health Science of the University of Milano‐Bicocca in Monza , and by funding and data management expertise provided for almost a decade by the Pediatric Oncology Group of Ontario (POGO). The ongoing investment by POGO ($ 50,000 per year for 5 years) has been matched by World Child Cancer from 2013.…”

Treating Pediatric soft tissue sarcomas in a country with limited resources: The experience of the Unidad Nacional de Oncologia Pediatrica in Guatemala

“…Improvements in economic conditions and public health, and lower mortality rates due to infectious diseases have led to childhood cancers now being recognized as a major cause of death in pediatric age in countries with limited resources 1, 2. In Latin America, recent partnership programs with groups in more developed countries have had a favorable impact on the quality of care.…”