Skip to main content
SpringerLink
Log in

Radiation Oncology in Global Health

  • Chapter
  • First Online:
Radiology in Global Health

Abstract

Radiation oncology is one of the three main therapeutic disciplines of clinical oncology, along with medical and surgical oncology. There are gaps in radiotherapy access worldwide—to equipment and human resources. This chapter discusses novel solutions to address these gaps with the intent of reducing the global burden of cancer.

This is a preview of subscription content, log in via an institution to check access.

Access this chapter

Log in via an institution
Chapter
USD 29.95
Price excludes VAT (USA)
  • Available as PDF
  • Read on any device
  • Instant download
  • Own it forever
eBook
USD 119.00
Price excludes VAT (USA)
  • Available as EPUB and PDF
  • Read on any device
  • Instant download
  • Own it forever
Hardcover Book
USD 159.99
Price excludes VAT (USA)
  • Durable hardcover edition
  • Dispatched in 3 to 5 business days
  • Free shipping worldwide - see info

Tax calculation will be finalised at checkout

Purchases are for personal use only

Institutional subscriptions

References

  1. Halperin EC, Wazer DE, Perez CA. The discipline of radiation oncology. In: Halperin EC, Brady LW, Perez CA, Wazer DE, editors. Perez and Brady’s principles and practice of radiation oncology. 6th ed. Philadelphia: Lippincott Williams & Williams; 2013. p. 2–75.

    Google Scholar 

  2. The American Association of Physicists in Medicine. Available at: www.AAPM.org. Accessed 27 Dec 2017.

  3. Radiation Oncology Targeting Cancer. Available at: https://www.targetingcancer.com.au/radiation-oncology-team/radiation-oncology-medical-physicists/. Accessed 27 Dec 2017.

  4. Medical Dosimetrist Certification Board. Available at: https://mdcb.org. Accessed 27 Dec 2017.

  5. American Society of Radiologic Technologists. Available at: www.asrt.org. Accessed 27 Dec 2017.

  6. American Registry of Radiologic Technologists. Available at: www.arrt.org. Accessed 27 Dec 2017.

  7. Radiation Oncology Targeting Cancer. Available at: https://www.targetingcancer.com.au/radiation-oncology-team/radiation-therapists/. Accessed 27 Dec 2017.

  8. Radiation Oncology Targeting Cancer. Available at: https://www.targetingcancer.com.au/radiation-oncology-team/radiation-oncology-nurses/. Accessed 27 Dec 2017.

  9. Bray F, Jemal A, Grey N, Ferlay J, Forman D. Global cancer transitions according to the Human Development Index (2008–2030): a population-based study. Lancet Oncol. 2012;13:790–801.

    Article  Google Scholar 

  10. Ferlay J, Soerjomataram I, Dikshit R, et al. Cancer incidence and mortality worldwide: sources, methods and major patterns in GLOBOCAN 2012. Int J Cancer. 2015;136:E359–86.

    Article  CAS  Google Scholar 

  11. Rosenblatt E, Acuna O, Abdel-Wahab M. The challenge of global radiation therapy: an IAEA perspective. Int J Radiat Oncol Biol Phys. 2015;91(4):687–9.

    Article  Google Scholar 

  12. Yap ML, Zubizarreta E, Bray F, Ferlay J, Barton M. Global access to radiotherapy services: have we made progress during the past decade. J Glob Oncol. 2016;2:207–15.

    Article  Google Scholar 

  13. Zubizarreta E, Van Dyk J, Lievens Y. Analysis of global radiotherapy needs and costs by geographic region and income level. Clin Oncol (R Coll Radiol). 2017;29:84–92.

    Article  CAS  Google Scholar 

  14. Rosenblatt E, Barton M, Mackillop W, et al. Optimal radiotherapy utilisation rate in developing countries: an IAEA study. Radiother Oncol. 2015;116:35–7.

    Article  Google Scholar 

  15. Abdel-Wahab M, Bourque JM, Pynda Y, et al. Status of radiotherapy resources in Africa: an International Atomic Energy Agency analysis. Lancet Oncol. 2013;14:e168–75.

    Article  Google Scholar 

  16. Datta NR, Samiei M, Bodis S. Radiation therapy infrastructure and human resources in low- and middle-income countries: present status and projections for 2020. Int J Radiat Oncol Biol Phys. 2014;89(3):448–57.

    Article  Google Scholar 

  17. Atun R, Jaffray DA, Barton MB, et al. Expanding global access to radiotherapy. Lancet Oncol. 2015;16:1153–86.

    Article  Google Scholar 

  18. Zubizarreta EH, Fidarova E, Healy B, Rosenblatt E. Need for radiotherapy in low and middle income countries – the silent crisis continues. Clin Oncol (R Coll Radiol). 2015;27:107–14.

    Article  CAS  Google Scholar 

  19. Barton MB, Frommer M, Shafiq J. Role of radiotherapy in cancer control in low-income and middle-income countries. Lancet Oncol. 2006;7:584–95.

    Article  Google Scholar 

  20. Abdel-Wahab M, Fidarova E, Polo A. Global access to radiotherapy in low and middle income countries. Clin Oncol (R Coll Radiol). 2017;29(2):99–104.

    Article  CAS  Google Scholar 

  21. Abdel-Wahab M, Zubizarreta E, Polo A, Meghzifene A. Improving quality and access to radiation therapy- an IAEA perspective. Semin Radiat Oncol. 2017;27:109–17.

    Article  Google Scholar 

  22. Abdel-Wahab M, Rosenblatt E, Homberg O, Meghzifene A. Safety in radiation oncology-the role of International initiatives by IAEA. J Am Coll Radiol. 2011;8(11):789–94.

    Article  Google Scholar 

  23. Page B, Hudson A, Brown DW, Shulman AC, Abdel-Wahab M, Fisher BJ, Patel S. Cobalt, linac, or other: what is the best solution for radiotherapy in developing countries? Int J Radiat Oncol Biol Phys. 2014;89(3):476–80. In reply to Page BR and Abdel-Wahab M. Revisiting Cobalt 60 teletherapy. Cobalt, linac, or other: what is the best solution for radiation therapy in developing countries? In Reply to Ravichandran R and Ravikumar. Int J Radiat Oncol Biol Phys. 2015;91(5):111.

    Article  Google Scholar 

  24. Rosenblatt E, Meghzifene A, Belyakov O, Abdel-Wahab M. The relevance of particle therapy to developing countries. Int J Radiat Oncol Biol Phys. 2015;95(1):25–9.

    Article  Google Scholar 

  25. Rosenblatt E, Prajogi GB, Barton M, Fidarova E, Ericksen J, Haffty B, et al. The need for competency based radiation oncology education in developing countries. Creative Educ. 2017;8(1):66–80.

    Article  Google Scholar 

  26. Chite Asirwa F, Greist A, Busakhala N, Rosen B, Loehrer PJ Sr. Medical education and training: building in-country capacity at all levels. J Clin Oncol. 2016;34(1):36–42.

    Article  Google Scholar 

  27. Efstathiou JA, Heunis M, Karumekayi T, et al. Establishing and delivering quality radiation therapy in resource-constrained settings: the story of Botswana. J Clin Oncol. 2015;34(1):27–35.

    Article  Google Scholar 

  28. Chabner BA, Efstathiou J, Dryden-Peterson S. visiting team from the Massachusetts General Hospital Cancer Center and our partners at the Medical School of the University of Botswana, the Princess Marina Hospital, the Gaborone Private Hospital, and the Botswana Ministry of Health. Cancer in Botswana: the second wave of AIDS in Sub-Saharan Africa. Oncologist. 2013;18(7):777–8.

    Article  Google Scholar 

  29. Einck JP, Hudson A, Shulman AC, et al. Implementation of a high-dose-rate brachytherapy program for carcinoma of the cervix in Senegal: a pragmatic model for the developing world. Int J Radiat Oncol Biol Phys. 2014;89(3):462–7.

    Article  Google Scholar 

  30. Schroeder K, Olson AC, Ackerson B, et al. Radiation needs in pediatric oncology in the lake region of Tanzania. JGO. 2016;2(3_suppl):64s–64s.

    Article  Google Scholar 

  31. Grover S, Balogun OD, Yamoah K, et al. Training global oncologists: addressing the global cancer control problem. Front Oncol. 2015;5:80.

    PubMed  PubMed Central  Google Scholar 

  32. Dad L, Shah MM, Mutter R, et al. Why target the globe?: 4-year report (2009–2013) of the Association of Residents in Radiation Oncology Global Health Initiative. Int J Radiat Oncol Biol Phys. 2014;89(3):485–91.

    Article  Google Scholar 

  33. Yamoah K, Beecham K, Hegarty SE, Hyslop T, Showalter T, Yarney J. Early results of prostate cancer radiation therapy: an analysis with emphasis on research strategies to improve treatment delivery and outcomes. BMC Cancer. 2013;13:23.

    Article  CAS  Google Scholar 

  34. Coleman CN, Formenti SC, Williams TR, et al. The international cancer expert corps: a unique approach for sustainable cancer care in low and lower-middle income countries. Front Oncol. 2014;4:333.

    Article  Google Scholar 

  35. Stewart BW, Wild CP, editors. World cancer report. Geneva: WHO Press; 2014. http://publications.iarc.fr/Non-Series-Publications/World-Cancer-Reports/World-Cancer-Report-2014.

    Google Scholar 

  36. Suneja G, Brown D, Chang A, et al. American Brachytherapy Society: brachytherapy treatment recommendations for locally advanced cervix cancer for low-income and middle-income countries. Brachytherapy. 2017;16(1):85–94.

    Article  Google Scholar 

  37. Gelband H, Sankaranarayanan R, Gauvreau CL, Horton S, Anderson BO, et al. Costs, affordability, and feasibility of an essential package of cancer control interventions in low-income and middle-income countries: key messages from Disease Control Priorities, 3rd edition. Lancet. 2016;387(10033):2133–44. p. 2140.

    Article  Google Scholar 

  38. Global Burden of Disease Health Financing Collaborator Network. Future and potential spending on health 2015–2040: development assistance for health, and government, prepaid private, and out-of-pocket health spending in 184 countries. Lancet. 2017;389(10083):2005–30.

    Article  Google Scholar 

  39. Asante A, Price J, Hayen A, Jan S, Wiseman V. Equity in health care financing in low- and middle-income countries: a systematic review of evidence from studies using benefit and financing incidence analyses. PLoS One. 2016;11(4):e0152866.

    Article  Google Scholar 

  40. Jha P, Peto R. Global effects of smoking, of quitting, and of taxing tobacco. N Engl J Med. 2014;370:60–8.

    Article  CAS  Google Scholar 

  41. Institute for Health Metrics and Evaluation (IHME). Financing global health 2016: development assistance, public and private health spending for the pursuit of universal health coverage. Seattle: IHME; 2017.

    Google Scholar 

  42. GAVI. The 2016–2020 investment opportunity. Geneva; 2016.

    Google Scholar 

  43. Allen LN. Financing national non-communicable disease responses. Glob Health Action. 2017;10(1):1326687.

    Article  Google Scholar 

  44. International Atomic Energy Agency. Available at: https://www.iaea.org/newscenter/pressreleases/iaea-meeting-aims-to-help-fund-cancer-care-in-low-and-middle-income-countries. Accessed 27 Dec 2017.

  45. Pistenmaa D, Coleman N. Developing medical linacs for challenging regions. Int J High Energy Phys. Available at: http://cerncourier.com/cws/article/cern/67710. Accessed 27 Dec 2017.

Download references

Author information

Authors and Affiliations

  1. Division of Human Health, International Atomic Energy Agency – IAEA, Vienna International Centre, Vienna, Austria

    May Abdel-Wahab

  2. Resource Mobilization, IAEA Programme of Action for Cancer Therapy, International Atomic Energy Agency – IAEA, Vienna International Centre, Vienna, Austria

    Anja Nitzsche-Bell

  3. Department of Radiation Oncology, Duke University, Duke Cancer Center, Medicine Circle, Durham, NC, USA

    Adam Olson

  4. Applied Radiation Biology and Radiotherapy Section, Division of Human Health, International Atomic Energy Agency – IAEA, Vienna International Centre, Vienna, Austria

    Alfredo Polo

  5. Department of Radiation Oncology, Henry Ford Health System, Detroit, MI, USA

    Mira M. Shah

  6. Applied Radiation Biology and Radiotherapy Section, IAEA, Department of Nuclear Sciences and Applications, International Atomic Energy Agency – IAEA, Vienna, Austria

    Eduardo Zubizarreta

  7. Department of Global Health, University of Washington, Seattle, WA, USA

    Shilpen Patel

  8. Division of Public Health, Fred Hutchinson Cancer Research Center, Menlo Park, CA, USA

    Shilpen Patel

Authors
  1. May Abdel-Wahab
    View author publications

    You can also search for this author in PubMed Google Scholar

  2. Anja Nitzsche-Bell
    View author publications

    You can also search for this author in PubMed Google Scholar

  3. Adam Olson
    View author publications

    You can also search for this author in PubMed Google Scholar

  4. Alfredo Polo
    View author publications

    You can also search for this author in PubMed Google Scholar

  5. Mira M. Shah
    View author publications

    You can also search for this author in PubMed Google Scholar

  6. Eduardo Zubizarreta
    View author publications

    You can also search for this author in PubMed Google Scholar

  7. Shilpen Patel
    View author publications

    You can also search for this author in PubMed Google Scholar

Editor information

Editors and Affiliations

  1. RAD-AID International, Chevy Chase, MD, USA

    Daniel J. Mollura

  2. RAD-AID International, Chevy Chase, MD, USA

    Melissa P. Culp

  3. Department of Radiology, Stanford University School of Medicine, Stanford, CA, USA

    Matthew P. Lungren

Rights and permissions

Reprints and permissions

Copyright information

© 2019 Springer Nature Switzerland AG

About this chapter

Check for updates. Verify currency and authenticity via CrossMark

Cite this chapter

Abdel-Wahab, M. et al. (2019). Radiation Oncology in Global Health. In: Mollura, D., Culp, M., Lungren, M. (eds) Radiology in Global Health. Springer, Cham. https://doi.org/10.1007/978-3-319-98485-8_25

Download citation

  • DOI: https://doi.org/10.1007/978-3-319-98485-8_25

  • Published:

  • Publisher Name: Springer, Cham

  • Print ISBN: 978-3-319-98484-1

  • Online ISBN: 978-3-319-98485-8

  • eBook Packages: MedicineMedicine (R0)

Publish with us

Policies and ethics

Search

Navigation