Integrating cancer into crisis: a global vision for action from WHO and partners.

More than a billion people live in fragile, conflict-affected, and vulnerable settings requiring humanitarian support, where cancer is a substantial health issue. Despite its substantial effect on populations, cancer care remains underprioritised in emergency preparedness and response frameworks and humanitarian operational planning. This Policy Review summarises the perspectives and actionable recommendations from the First Global High-Level Technical Meeting on Non-communicable Diseases in Humanitarian Settings, with a focus on cancer.

The lived experience of people affected by cancer: A global cross-sectional survey protocol.

A diagnosis of cancer impacts the person's physical and mental health and the psychosocial and financial health of their caregivers. While data on the experience of living with cancer is available, there is a dearth of data from persons in low- and middle-income countries (LMICs). The perspectives of other impacted individuals also remain understudied (e.

Developing and sustaining high-quality care for children with cancer: the WHO Global Initiative for Childhood Cancer.

Cancer is a major public health concern, impacting nearly 20 million people each year, and it is responsible for 1 in 6 deaths worldwide. The burden of cancer is increasing rapidly, straining health systems that are unable to prevent and manage the disease. Childhood cancer constitutes a significant and relevant public health challenge; it was the ninth leading cause of childhood disease globally, according to findings by the Global Burden of Disease 2017 study.

Advances in the Global Initiative for Childhood Cancer: implementation in Latin America and the Caribbean.

This report describes the status of childhood cancer control initiatives in Latin America and the Caribbean (LAC). Progress between 2017 and 2023 is measured using the outcome indicators from the Pan American Health Organization (PAHO) childhood cancer logic model aligned with the World Health Organization Global Initiative for Childhood Cancer (GICC). This report also describes the advances, barriers, and facilitators for the implementation of the GICC at the Regional level.

Rhabdomyosarcoma in low- and middle-income countries: A report from the Asociacion de Hemato-oncología Pediatrica de Centro América (AHOPCA).

This report describes the results of an observational study dedicated to rhabdomyosarcoma developed by the Asociación de Hemato-oncología Pediatrica de Centro América (AHOPCA) between 2001 and 2018. Overall, 337 previously untreated patients < 18 years old were included in the analysis; 58% had unresected disease, and 19% were metastatic at diagnosis. With a median follow-up of 6.

Delayed Enucleation With Neoadjuvant Chemotherapy in Advanced Intraocular Unilateral Retinoblastoma: AHOPCA II, a Prospective, Multi-Institutional Protocol in Central America.

Purpose: Treatment abandonment because of enucleation refusal is a limitation of improving outcomes for children with retinoblastoma in countries with limited resources. Furthermore, many children present with buphthalmos and a high risk of globe rupture during enucleation. To address these unique circumstances, the AHOPCA II protocol introduced neoadjuvant chemotherapy with delayed enucleation.

Outcome of pediatric non-Hodgkin lymphoma in Central America: A report of the Association of Pediatric Hematology Oncology of Central America (AHOPCA).

Background: Treating B-non-Hodgkin lymphoma (B-NHL) in lower-income countries is challenging because of imprecise diagnosis, the increased risk of fatal toxicity associated with advanced disease at presentation, and limited supportive care.

Procedure: Central American patients with newly diagnosed stage I or II B-NHL received a modified Berlin-Frankfurt-Münster (BFM) regimen including a prephase (prednisone, cyclophosphamide) followed by A/B/A courses (A: cytarabine, dexamethasone, etoposide, ifosfamide, methotrexate, and intrathecal therapy; B: cyclophosphamide, dexamethasone, doxorubicin, methotrexate, and intrathecal therapy). Those with stage III or IV NHL received additional courses (B/A/B), intensified for stage IV disease by additional vincristine and methotrexate doses.

Oral Nutritional Supplementation in Children Treated for Cancer in Low- and Middle-Income Countries Is Feasible and Effective: the Experience of the Children's Hospital Manuel De Jesus Rivera "La Mascota" in Nicaragua.

Children with cancer are particularly vulnerable to malnutrition, which can affect their tolerance of chemotherapy and outcome. In Nicaragua approximately two-thirds of children diagnosed with cancer present with under-nutrition. A nutritional program for children with cancer has been developed at "La Mascota" Hospital.

Traditional and Complementary Medicine in Pediatric Oncology and Low-Middle Income Countries: Recommendations from the International Society of Pediatric Oncology (SIOP), T&CM Collaborative.

Significant strides have been made in the treatment of childhood cancer. Improvements in survival have led to increased attention toward supportive care indications; including the use of traditional and complementary medicine (T&CM). The use of T&CM among children and adolescents with cancer is well documented in both high-income countries (HICs) and low-middle income countries (LMICs).

Effects of malnutrition on treatment-related morbidity and survival of children with cancer in Nicaragua.

Background: Most children with cancer live in resource-limited countries where malnutrition is often prevalent. We identified the relationship between malnutrition and treatment-related morbidity (TRM), abandonment of therapy, and survival of children with cancer in Nicaragua to better inform targeted nutritional interventions.

Procedure: We conducted a retrospective review of patients aged 6 months to 18 years with newly diagnosed acute lymphoblastic leukemia, acute myeloid leukemia (AML), Wilms tumor, Hodgkin lymphoma, or Burkitt lymphoma (BL) who were treated between January 1, 2004, and December 31, 2007 at Children's Hospital Manuel de Jesus Rivera in Managua, Nicaragua.

Anaplastic Large Cell Lymphoma in Central America: A Report From the Central American Association of Pediatric Hematology Oncology (AHOPCA).

Background: Although anaplastic large cell lymphoma (ALCL) is curable in high-income countries (HIC), data from low- and middle-income countries (LMIC) are lacking. We therefore conducted a retrospective study of the Central American Association of Pediatric Hematology Oncology (AHOPCA) experience in treating ALCL.

Procedure: We included all patients age <18 years newly diagnosed with ALCL treated between 2000 and 2013 in seven AHOPCA institutions.

Improving our understanding of the use of traditional complementary/alternative medicine in children with cancer.

Background: Children with cancer in high-income and low-income countries often use traditional complementary/alternative medicine (TCAM). With efforts by the World Health Organization and international twinning programs improving access to conventional care for patients with childhood cancer, understanding the global use of TCAM is important because reliance on TCAM may affect time to presentation, adherence, and abandonment of care. In the current study, the authors describe the process and validation of an international survey documenting the use of TCAM among children with cancer.

Barriers to effective treatment of pediatric solid tumors in middle-income countries: can we make sense of the spectrum of nonbiologic factors that influence outcomes?

Background: The delivery of effective treatment for pediatric solid tumors poses a particular challenge to centers in middle-income countries (MICs) that already are vigorously addressing pediatric cancer. The objective of this study was to improve the current understanding of barriers to effective treatment of pediatric solid tumors in MICs.

Methods: An ecologic model centered on pediatric sarcoma and expanded to country as the environment was used as a benchmark for studying the delivery of solid tumor care in MICs.

Pediatric sarcoma in Central America: outcomes, challenges, and plans for improvement.

Background: Children with cancer in middle-income countries have inferior outcomes compared with similar children in high-income countries. The magnitude and drivers of this survival gap are not well understood. In the current report, the authors sought to describe patterns of clinical presentation, magnitude of treatment abandonment, and survival in children with sarcoma in Central America.

Nutritional status at diagnosis is related to clinical outcomes in children and adolescents with cancer: a perspective from Central America.

Background: The prevalence of malnutrition in children may exceed 50% in countries with limited resources. The aims of this study were to assess nutritional status at diagnosis in children and adolescents with cancer, and to correlate it with clinical outcomes in the Spanish speaking countries of Central America that formed the AHOPCA (Asociacion de Hemato-Oncologia Pediatrica de Centro America) consortium.

Methods: Patients aged 1-18 years, diagnosed with cancer between 1st October 2004 and 30th September 2007, were eligible for study.

Protocol-based treatment for children with cancer in low income countries in Latin America: a report on the recent meetings of the Monza International School of Pediatric Hematology/Oncology (MISPHO)--part II.

Pediatric cancer programs in low-income countries (LIC) can improve outcomes. However, treatment must be tailored to the patient's living conditions and the availability of supportive care. In some cases, a more intense regimen will decrease survival since the increase in death from toxicity may exceed any decrease in relapse.