Radiotherapy access must be improved in developing world: UN

The UN nuclear agency warned on Thursday that the number of cancer cases in the developing world will double by 2015 and said poorer countries need urgent help getting access to radiation therapy machines.

“A silent crisis in cancer treatment exists in developing countries and is intensifying every year,” Mohamed El Baradei, head of the United Nations International Atomic Energy Agency (IAEA) said in a statement.”At least 50 to 60% of cancer victims in the developing world can benefit from radiotherapy that destroys cancerous tumours, but most (poor) countries do not have enough radiotherapy machines or…specialised doctors,” he said.The IAEA expects the number of new cancer cases in the developing world to reach 10 million a year in 2015. Annual cancer deaths worldwide are expected to double to 12 million in 2020 from six million in 2000, the World Health Organisation (WHO) says. Over the next decade, the IAEA estimates that at least $2.5 billion is needed for treatment facilities in poor countries, half to purchase machines, and half to train the physicians and physicists required to ensure safe and effective treatment.Developing states are home to 85% of the world population, but they possess only about one third of the total radiotherapy facilities, roughly 2200 radiation therapy machines. The developed world has more than 4500 treatment machines.Some 15 African nations and a few countries in Asia lack even a single radiation therapy machine. Ethiopia, a country of 60 million people, has just one machine, provided by the IAEA.Factors including increased tobacco use have been blamed for rising cancer rates in the developing world. Poor diet and infections are also linked to cancer rates.To fight the looming cancer crisis in the developing world, the IAEA is trying to get funding to buy radiotherapy machines and train more doctors in radiotherapy. In addition, the IAEA is working to help countries establish safe and secure conditions for the radiation devices.The IAEA is also working with the WHO and other institutions to help poor countries establish cancer management programs that include prevention, early diagnosis and treatment. Reports have shown that up to 45% of all cancers can be cured with such programs in place.(Source: Reuters Health: June 26, 2003: Oncolink)