More than 80% of all cancer patients in Africa present to their local health facility with advanced disease. As cancer progresses into later disease stages, it is frequently accompanied by pain caused by the tumor’s disruption of normal tissue processes. Despite the significant burden of advanced disease, as described in the 2022 Lancet Oncology CommissionContinue reading “Two-day lecture series teaches African care providers best practices in cancer pain management”
Category Archives: Programs
Cervical cancer program builds clinical capacity in southern district of Rwanda
Cervical cancer can be eliminated through vaccination, screening, and early treatment, yet it is still the most common cause of cancer deaths among women in sub-Saharan Africa. In an effort to combat the devastating effects of this disease, the First Lady of Rwanda, Madam Jeanette Kagame, tasked BVGH and the Rwandan Biomedical Center (RBC) withContinue reading “Cervical cancer program builds clinical capacity in southern district of Rwanda”
Nigerian radiation oncology center launches advanced radiotherapy service
Based in Lagos, Nigeria, the NSIA-LUTH Cancer Center (NLCC) is one of three Nigerian facilities offering radiation therapy. Funded by the Nigerian Sovereign Investment Authority (NSIA), NLCC is built upon a foundation of partnership and is committed to offering cancer patients cutting-edge care. The center, which opened in 2019, has treated more than 5,000 cancerContinue reading “Nigerian radiation oncology center launches advanced radiotherapy service”
Clinical trial training program addresses cancer data gap in Africa and enables new research ventures for African clinicians
Africa has historically been overlooked by the international oncology research community, resulting in the continent’s participation in less than 2% of all cancer clinical trials. Africa’s underrepresentation in cancer clinical trials has culminated in an alarming lack of data describing the effects of new cancer technologies and treatments in the world’s most genetically diverse population.Continue reading “Clinical trial training program addresses cancer data gap in Africa and enables new research ventures for African clinicians”
Pathologists launch new diagnostic services for cancer patients in southern Rwanda
Opened in 1928, the University Teaching Hospital of Butaré (CHUB) in the Southern Province of Rwanda is one of five major medical facilities in the country that diagnoses cancer. While CHUB can perform basic histology and cytology procedures to diagnose cancers, it has been unable to afford the reagents needed to perform immunohistochemistry (IHC) staining.Continue reading “Pathologists launch new diagnostic services for cancer patients in southern Rwanda”
AC3T Study Pool Mini-Grants empower early-career cancer researchers
Despite representing 4% of the world’s new cancer cases in 2020, only 0.5% of cancer clinical trials have been performed in sub-Saharan Africa. Several factors, including the continent’s limited number of experienced clinical researchers, have contributed to Africa’s underrepresentation in clinical trials. Given the continent’s predicted increase in new cancer cases over the next twoContinue reading “AC3T Study Pool Mini-Grants empower early-career cancer researchers”
Digital training program and two-year fellowship address gynecologic cancer care needs in Rwanda
Gynecologic cancers are the most common malignancies in Rwanda – and the deadliest. Over 1,300 Rwandan women develop cervical cancer each year, with 71% of those women dying from the disease. Yet like many low- and middle-income countries, Rwanda does not have subspecialized gynecologic-oncologists in-country. Instead the burden of care for cervical, uterine, and breastContinue reading “Digital training program and two-year fellowship address gynecologic cancer care needs in Rwanda”
Virtual training series prepares radiation specialists to use advanced radiotherapy technique
While developments in radiotherapy have created safer, more targeted treatment options for cancer patients worldwide, many hospitals in sub-Saharan Africa lack the training, capacity, and infrastructure to implement them. Without access to the most cutting-edge treatment techniques, Africa’s cancer patients will not achieve the high survival rates seen in other regions of the world. InContinue reading “Virtual training series prepares radiation specialists to use advanced radiotherapy technique”
Pathology laboratory in Rwanda expands diagnostic capacity to receive accreditation
Deaths due to cancer in Rwanda have doubled since 1990. With 50-fold fewer pathologists per capita than the USA, Rwanda lacks a pathology workforce needed to produce consistent and timely diagnoses for cancer patients. Given that late or inaccurate cancer diagnoses are a reliable predictor of adverse outcomes, strengthening diagnostic capacity will be crucial toContinue reading “Pathology laboratory in Rwanda expands diagnostic capacity to receive accreditation”
Customized training programs lead to knowledge exchanges between US and African pathologists
Without intervention, experts predict that cancer mortality in sub-Saharan Africa will double to 1 million deaths per year by 2040. Accurate diagnoses by pathology professionals are essential to positive cancer treatment outcomes, yet most African countries – including Nigeria – face a shortage of routine training opportunities that are needed to hone the oncology skills ofContinue reading “Customized training programs lead to knowledge exchanges between US and African pathologists”