Global Cancer Burden and Natural Disasters: A Focus on Asia’s Vulnerability, Resilience Building, and Impact on Cancer Care

Abstract

The world has been witnessing more frequent and greater intensity weather-related disasters. Natural disasters hit every continent in the world. Asia has borne the brunt in terms of frequency and the total numbers of people affected. This is mainly because of Asia’s increasing population and its large and varied landmass, with multiple river basins, mountains, flood plains, and active seismic and volcanic zones. The Union for International Cancer Control New Global Cancer Date: GLOBOCAN 2018 has estimated the global cancer burden to have risen to 18.1 million new cases and 9.6 million deaths. Asia constitutes roughly 60% of the world’s population. The region contributes nearly one half of new cancer cases and more than one half of cancer deaths worldwide. This increase in the regional burden of cancer is largely a result of socioeconomic growth and the increasing size and aging of the population. In addition to the increasing cancer cases, the string of natural disasters will cause heavy damage and a great human toll in Asia. Medical care for disaster-affected populations is focused traditionally on the management of immediate trauma and acute infections. For people with noncommunicable diseases, this presents a significant risk. Patients with cancer are especially susceptible to the disruptions that natural disasters can cause. Their special needs are largely neglected. There is a need to refocus and expand disaster risk reduction strategies and resources to include patients with noncommunicable diseases such as cancer, because these conditions are generating the bulk of disability, ill health, and premature death around the globe. Having the world’s biggest burden of cancer, Asia will definitely be facing these challenges.

What are the implications of climate change for speech and language therapists?

“…Climate change‐induced disasters also impact cancer survival as individuals may not be able to access appropriate care and treatment. The successful prevention, diagnosis and treatment of cancer involve multiple health professional visits and this makes individuals with cancer particularly vulnerable to the effects of extreme weather events (De Guzman and Malik 2019, Nogueira et al . 2020, Sahar et al .…”

“…2020). Again, this may be a particular problem for older individuals and in LMICs, which may also be especially affected by natural disasters due to climate change (De Guzman and Malik 2019, Loehn et al . 2011, Prohaska and Peters 2019).…”

Cancer Care After Natural Disaster: Different Countries, Similar Problems

“…The article by De Guzman and Malik 1 discusses the treatment of patients with cancer after natural disasters in Asia. The authors point out the additional frailties low- and medium-income countries have to face with in case of natural disasters.…”

“…We have appreciated the discussion regarding the critical conditions of patients with cancer during and after natural disasters. De Guzman and Malik 1 correctly state that disaster management is predominantly a reactive response, and that national health systems still lack proactive attitudes to improve early warning systems, to build resilience, and, most important, to address people with special needs such as patients with cancer.…”

Priorities in prevention and control of flood hazards in Iran 2019 massive flood

“…Long duration floods lead to severe health problems for people, especially for elderly and disabled people who live in unhygienic and poor condition (17). In long term, natural disasters are also associated with onset and/or development of cancer due to disruption of cancer treatment systems especially for older adults (18, 19).…”