Radiation Therapy Physics Quality Assurance and Management Practices in Low- and Middle-Income Countries: An Initial Pilot Survey in Six Countries and Validation Through a Site Visit.

Purpose: Our purpose was to assess physics quality assurance (QA) practices in less resourced radiation therapy (RT) centers to improve quality of care.

Methods And Materials: A preliminary study was conducted in 2020 of 13 select RT centers in 6 countries, and in 2021, our team conducted onsite visits to all the RT centers in Ghana, one of the countries from the initial survey. The RT centers included 1 private and 2 public institutions (denoted as Public-1 and Public-2).

Heterogeneity in head and neck cancer incidence among black populations from Africa, the Caribbean and the USA: Analysis of cancer registry data by the AC3.

Background: Africa and the Caribbean are projected to have greater increases in Head and neck cancer (HNC) burden in comparison to North America and Europe. The knowledge needed to reinforce prevention in these populations is limited. We compared for the first time, incidence rates of HNC in black populations from African, the Caribbean and USA.

Radiotherapy in the Caribbean: a spotlight on the human resource and equipment challenges among CARICOM nations.

Background: There is limited data on access to radiotherapy services for CARICOM nations.

Methods: This was a descriptive mixed-methods observational study which used data collected via survey from staff working in Radiation Oncology in 14 CARICOM countries. Benchmark recommendations from the International Atomic Energy Agency were compared to existing numbers.

The Caribbean Community Clinical Oncology Workforce: Analyzing Where We Are Today and Projecting for Tomorrow.

Purpose: To analyze the current physician clinical oncological workforce within the CARICOM full member states with an aim to make recommendations for building capacity.

Methods: A questionnaire was prepared and emailed to professionals working in oncology in 14 CARICOM full member countries. It was designed to identify the number of specialists providing hematology, medical oncology, and radiotherapy services.

A retrospective review of patients with stage IB2 cervical cancer treated with radical radiation versus radical surgery as a primary modality.

Objective: To review the efficacy of treatment modalities in patients with stage IB2 cervical cancer treated at Groote Schuur Hospital, Cape Town, South Africa.

Materials And Methods: This was a retrospective observational study of patients with stage IB2 cervical cancer treated from 1993 to 2008 with either primary radiotherapy, (with or without follow-on hysterectomy) or primary surgery (with or without adjuvant radiotherapy). Weekly cisplatin given concurrently with radiotherapy was used since 2003.