Adi J. Price|Paul Ndom|Etienne Atenguena|Jean Pierre Mambou Nouemssi|Robert W. Ryder
Cancer care challenges in developing countries
University of California, San Diego|Yaoundé General Hospital|Yaoundé General Hospital|Yaoundé General Hospital|University of California, San Diego
abstract background health systems subsaharan africa prepared rapid rise cancer rates projected region next decades must understood current state cancer care region target improvement efforts yaounde general hospital ygh currently site cameroon population 188 million adults receive chemotherapy trained medical oncologists experiences patients facility represent useful paradigm describing cancer care region methods july august 2010 multidisciplinary team conducted closedend interviews 79 consecutive patients confirmed breast cancer kaposi sarcoma lymphoma results thirtyfive percent patients waited gt6 months speak health care provider first sign cancer delay first consultation health care provider receipt cancer diagnosis gt3 months 47 patients total delay first sign cancer receipt correct diagnosis gt6 months 63 patients twentythree percent patients traveled gt7 hours reach ygh 40 patients interviewed spent gt200 single round chemotherapy conclusions cancer patients experienced numerous geographic health care system challenges resulting significant delays receiving diagnosis treatment even cancers highly amenable early intervention unacceptable unethical situation likely explained limited knowledge cancer among patients health care professionals government neglect poverty reliance traditional healers cancer 201236273635 2011 american cancer society