Oncology training and education initiatives in low and middle income countries: a scoping review.

Background: The global cancer burden falls disproportionately on low and middle-income countries (LMICs). One significant barrier to adequate cancer control in these countries is the lack of an adequately trained oncology workforce. Oncology education and training initiatives are a critical component of building the workforce.

Multisector Collaborations and Global Oncology: The Only Way Forward.

Purpose: At the 12th meeting of AORTIC (African Organization for Research and Training in Cancer) in Maputo, Mozambique, held between November 5 and November 8, 2019, a special workshop was organized to focus on the need for collaboration and coordination between governments and health systems in Africa with academic, industry, association, and other nongovernmental organizations to effect sustainable positive change for the care of patients with cancer.

Methods: Representatives from seven different projects in Africa presented implementation science and demonstration projects of their to date efforts in cancer system improvement including patient access, South-South partnerships, in-country specialized training, palliative care consortium, treatment outcomes, and focused pathology and diagnostic capacity building. Key partners of the various projects served as moderators and commentators during the session.

Radiation Sciences Education in Africa: An Assessment of Current Training Practices and Evaluation of a High-Yield Course in Radiation Biology and Radiation Physics.

Purpose: Formal education in the radiation sciences is critical for the safe and effective delivery of radiotherapy. Practices and patterns of radiation sciences education and trainee performance in the radiation sciences are poorly described. This study assesses the current state of radiation sciences education in Africa and evaluates a high-yield, on-site educational program in radiation biology and radiation physics for oncology and radiation therapy trainees in Africa.

Treatment and outcome of AIDS-related Kaposi sarcoma in South Africa, Malawi and Zambia: an international comparison.

HIV-related Kaposi sarcoma (KS) is common in sub-Saharan Africa, but optimal treatment strategies in resource-limited settings remain unclear. We did a retrospective cohort study of adults diagnosed with KS before initiating antiretroviral therapy (ART) at three ART programs in South Africa, Malawi and Zambia. We extracted data from medical charts at HIV clinics and oncological referral centers and used electronic data from the International epidemiology Databases to Evaluate AIDS Southern Africa.

Complete Remission in Locally Advanced Breast Cancer: What Comprehensive Multi-Modality Treatment Has to Offer in Sub-Saharan Africa.

Locally advanced breast cancer presents as a heterogeneous disease, but it is often best treated with aggressive combined modality therapy.  Commonly, it carries a more guarded prognosis. Given the above, it can be a particularly challenging entity to treat in resource-limited settings.