Future of Global Cancer From the Perspective of Young Oncology Leaders

Abstract

Background: Oncology organizations and professional associations (OA) across the cancer control continuum have developed Young Leader (YL) programs to engage promising members of their organizations and to facilitate opportunities for their advancement. Although these groups share common aims, there has been little synergy across YL programs and limited understanding of the shared perspectives, experiences, and challenges of YLs. Aim: To understand the profile, activities and challenges facing YLs worldwide from the perspective of global cancer control. Methods: The survey was generated by a task force of YLs and was pilot-tested among 10 international physicians. The final survey was composed of four sections: baseline characteristics, challenges in cancer control, building a career in cancer control and networking in cancer control. The survey was sent out in 2018 to 867 people, who were identified as potential YLs by 7 OA, with 2 reminder e-mails within 2-4 weeks interval. The final responses were summarized using descriptive analysis method. Results: A total of 139 survey responses were received from 61 countries (per region - 38.4% Europe, 29.6% America, 22% Asia-Pacific, and 10% Africa). Median response rate was 62.2% (range 5%-100% per organizational group, overall 16%). The majority of respondents were < 39 years old (64%), female (53.6%), with a higher degree (Ph.D. 43.1%), and in academic positions (68.1%). Clinicians made up 65.2% of the sample, followed by researchers (20.2%), and advocacy leaders (5.1%). YLs believed that the most important priorities to the future of cancer control were 1) to make cancer care available globally (47.5%), 2) to provide value based cancer care (27.5%) and 3) to transform cancer care through technology (10.5%). To address these aims, 70% of YLs believed that the most important next step was to improve screening and early diagnosis. YLs identified the lack of financial resources (65.2%), increasing treatment costs (64.5%) and late diagnosis (61.6%) as important barriers to achieving these aims. YLs reported that their greatest obstacles to engaging in global cancer control were lack of funding (46%), lack of opportunities (42%) and toxic political/academic environments (46%). 70% reported that mentorship and network development followed by academic success (51.4%) and leadership training (42%) were the most important factors in support of their future goals. Conclusion: YL experience similar challenges and aspiration concerning global cancer control. The need to make cancer care available globally, and to receive mentorship and training were highlighted. Our findings also suggest that oncology groups should aim to ensure a global agenda, promote collaboration and mentorship and rediscuss program objectives to guarantee sustainability of current organizational plans and to better support the YLs’ future goals.