Developing Strategies for Cancer Care

One size doesn’t fit all in cancer diagnosis and treatment. Machines that are heralded as breakthroughs in technological wizardry in developed countries may not be equally beneficial to patients in low and middle income states.

This is why more than 400 cancer therapy specialists from 100 countries are meeting in Vienna during 27-29 April at an IAEA event to discuss modern techniques in radiation treatment and how to apply them in developing countries. Major national and international organizations in the field of radiation oncology are also taking part in the conference. This event will benefit developing countries by putting things into perspective.

Many of the advances in radiation oncology that are unveiled at international forums every year are not only expensive but untried and sometimes even experimental. It’s more crucial for developing countries to understand which of the current treatments and approaches can be best applied considering the challenges they face, like limited human and financial resources. The meeting is expected to promote information sharing between low, middle and high income countries, so that cancer care can be improved in the long term (IAEA News).