Enhancing colon cancer care in restricted-resource settings.

Abstract

Colon cancer ranks third among the most frequently diagnosed cancers worldwide and was projected to claim more than 900 000 lives in 2020, according to the International Agency for Research on Cancer's GLOBOCAN data. 1 Sung H Ferlay J Siegel RL et al. Global cancer statistics 2020: GLOBOCAN estimates of incidence and mortality worldwide for 36 cancers in 185 countries. CA Cancer J Clin. 2021; 71: 209-249 Crossref PubMed Scopus (30514) Google Scholar The overall survival rate for colon cancer varies on the basis of clinical and pathological factors, such as staging, performance status, and geographical location. Despite the lower incidence, survival of colon cancer in low-income and middle-income countries (LMICs) is considerably reduced compared with high-income and very-high-income countries, which is probably attributable to disparities in diagnostic and treatment access. Considering expected increases in colon cancer incidence due to demographic and dietary changes, there is an urgent and unmet need to enhance cancer care in LMICs through better resource allocation and cost-effective interventions to achieve optimal value for money and reduce health inequalities. 2 Khan SZ Lengyel CG Challenges in the management of colorectal cancer in low- and middle-income countries. Cancer Treat Res Commun. 2023; (published online April 6.)https://doi.org/10.1016/j.ctarc.2023.100705 Crossref Scopus (0) Google Scholar Global application of National Comprehensive Cancer Network resource-stratified guidelines for systemic treatment of colon cancer: a population-based, customisable model for cost, demand, and procurementWe have developed a customisable model that can be applied at global, national, and subnational levels to estimate systemic treatment needs, forecast drug procurement, and calculate expected drug costs on the basis of local data. This tool can be used to plan resource allocation for colon cancer globally. Full-Text PDF