Between and Within: International Perspectives on Cancer and Health Disparities

Abstract

The purpose of this article is to compare reasons for cancer health disparities in developing and developed countries. By 2010, approximately 60% of new cancer cases will occur in the developing world, higher than rates developed countries. However, disparities exist not only between countries but also within countries. Cancer epidemiology in developing countries is paradoxical: Increased incidence is partially due to increased development resulting in longer life expectancy and unhealthy lifestyle behaviors. Reduced mortality from infectious diseases results in relatively greater mortality from chronic diseases. However, infectious diseases are also risk factors for the leading causes of cancer mortality in these countries. While health disparities in developing versus developed countries are quantitatively worlds apart, they are qualitatively rather similar. They share common causes, such as environmental pollution, the need for social justice, large gaps between the rich and the poor, lack of access to cancer resources, and health services that are available to some but not to all. While industrialization and urbanization elevate a country's economic base while contributing to cancer incidence and mortality. Strategies to reduce international cancer disparities include country- and regional-level interventions, utilizing nongovernmental organizations, and developing long-term inter-institutional partnerships. Although economic aid is undoubtedly necessary, it is not sufficient to control cancer in the developing world. To address these problems, it will be necessary to focus attention on what can be done locally-within countries, not only between countries.

Epidemiology of Malignant and Non-Malignant Primary Brain Tumors in Jordan

“…Accordingly, we believe that the Jordanian Cancer Registry was not able to identify all the primary brain tumors diagnosed in the country during their survey, and underestimated the real incidence rate of these tumors. This is a common problem in developing countries, where national registries face multiple problems such as limited infrastructures, poor quality healthcare records and population movements [7,8,9]. One particularly challenging problem for the development of epidemiological studies in Jordan is the continuous migratory movements that affect the country due to the political instability in the region.…”

“…However, despite their devastating impact on many patients worldwide, there is lack of systematic reviews of the global prevalence of these tumors [1]. This issue is even more intense in developing countries, where it is often difficult to create accurate population-based cancer registries due to limited infrastructures, low-quality healthcare records, population movements, and political and economic instability [7,8,9,10]. Accordingly, only 60 reports out of 122 that were submitted from population-based cancer registries in Africa, Asia, and Latin America met the international standards to be included in cancer incidence in 5 continents for the period 1998-2002 [7].…”

Inequalities in cancer incidence and mortality across medium to highly developed countries in the twenty-first century

“…(1) Although differences may be partly attributed to demographic structure, population size and stages of epidemiologic transition, much of the observed disparities remain unexplained. (2,3) It therefore remains open to discussion whether these inequalities are avoidable.…”

Mixed Method Approaches to Understanding Cancer-Related Dietary Risk Reduction among Public Housing Residents

“…1,2 Social gradients in cancer burden, both within and across societies, stem from multiple sources, with one important influence being diet.the life course, to risk for cancer and other chronic diseases, with one third of cancers attributed to diet. 3,4 Specific controversies notwithstanding, consensus suggests that cancer risk is reduced through moderate caloric intake, a varied diet of primarily plant-based foods, and reduced consumption of energy-dense foods (including those high in fats), alcohol, sodium, and processed meats.…”