by Christine Riney, AWC Hamburg, AWC London & FAWCO Health Co-Chair
The thought, the very idea, that we could have a future without the staggering number of deaths from cancer (in 2020 approx. 10,000,000) seems impossible – but is it? We live in a time of amazing advancements in the care of cancer patients and more importantly, in the prevention of cancer. Unfortunately, the equality of these advancements is glaringly obvious, with discrimination based on gender, age, sexual orientation, race, socioeconomic status and where you live.
This year, the theme of World Cancer Day is Close the Care Gap. The aim is to educate us all on how we can support more fair, equitable access to cancer care – prevention, diagnosis, and treatment.
Facts about equity and cancer:
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For white women in the US, the five-year survival rate for cervical cancer is 71%. For Black women, the rate is just 58%.
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In New Zealand, Māori are twice as likely to die from cancer as non-Māori.
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Childhood cancer survival rates are over 80% in high-income countries, but as low as 20% in low-income countries.
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More than 90% of cervical cancer mortality occurs in low- and middle-income countries.
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Cancer kills nearly 10 million people a year, and some 70% of those are aged 65 or older, yet older populations face disproportionate barriers to effective treatment.
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In refugee populations, cancer is more likely to be diagnosed at an advanced stage, leading to worse outcomes.
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Due in part to discrimination from healthcare practitioners, cancer screening among transgender people is lower than in the rest of the population.
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There are notable differences in cancer-related outcomes for rural and nonrural patients, even in high-income settings such as the US.
It is also up to us to encourage and educate ourselves and those around us on what can be done to help. We can all act towards a future without cancer.
Read more:
The Elimination of Cervical Cancer by Christine Riney, AWC Hamburg, AWC London & FAWCO Health Co-Chair
Cervical Cancer - A Global Strategy by Martha Canning, AWC Amsterdam, Target Health Education Chair
Resources: