Delivery of Care
The Story of Dr. Anne Merriman: Pioneering Compassion and Dignity in Africa’s Palliative Care Revolution
No conversation about palliative care in Africa is complete without mentioning Dr. Anne Merriman. Her life was a testament to deep compassion — dedicated to caring for others, championing dignity in death, and ensuring free access to pain relief for…
When Hope is Hard to Find, Folk Remedies Step In
If you're in Eastern Europe and are unfortunate enough to develop a cancerous tumor, there's a decent chance that, alongside the diagnosis, you’ll receive an avalanche of advice from friends and family. Brew herbal teas; rub your skin with alcohol;…
A Bold Step into Building Africa’s Cancer Atlas
Cancer does not affect all populations equally. For individuals of African descent, whether living on the continent or in the diaspora, cancer often presents at different stages, responds differently to treatment, and is associated with poorer outcomes. Yet, African populations…
Can Healing and Growth Coexist? Post-Traumatic Transformation in Cancer Patients
When Ana, a confident assistant manager at a multinational corporation, walked into my counseling office, she was no longer the poised professional her colleagues knew. “I was never meant to be a mother,” she whispered, eyes shadowed by uncertainty and…
Fighting Cervical Cancer in Latin America’s Indigenous Communities: The Case for More Research and Tailored Programs
Across Latin America, indigenous women experience the highest cervical cancer death rates in the region. Geographic, economic, and cultural barriers hinder their access to screening and treatment follow-up. Now, a group of researchers is trying to change that, by mapping…
Towards a Familial Cancer Service for Chile
A regional programme for genetic sequencing and counselling is being piloted in Chile to promote prevention and early detection in people with a hereditary high-risk of cancer. Advances in genetic sequencing technologies are making it cheaper and easier to test…
Traditional Chinese Medicine: Building a Bridge to Modern Oncology
China’s oncologists want to see robust evidence before putting their faith in traditional remedies. Practitioners of traditional Chinese medicine struggle with concepts of experimental medicine and animal models. But interest is growing in finding ways to bridge that gap in…
Is It Biology or Geography That Decides Who Survives Childhood Cancer?
Cancer is a word no parent ever wants to hear. But when that word comes with no access to treatment, it doesn’t just hurt—it destroys hope.A year ago, I was walking through a coastal town in Africa. It was a…
Albinism And Skin Cancer In Africa: Tackling The Prevention Needs Of A Stigmatised Population
People with albinism in Africa face many obstacles, including a significantly higher risk of skin cancer due to intense sun exposure and lack of melanin, making prevention and access to protective care essential. CancerWorld journalist, Esther Nakkazi, explores some of…
Why Patient-Reported Outcomes are Rarely Used in Trials, and How We Change That
If drug developers design trials to measure how well their drug addresses the issues most important to the target patient community, we could expect to end up with better drugs. Integrating patient-reported outcomes into clinical trials is the way to…