Amelia Yau - Oncology

Oncology

By: Amelia Yau

Oncology is a branch of medicine dedicated to preventing, diagnosing, and treating cancer. While cancer is a disease, it is also a large global problem. Every single year, millions of individuals' lives are taken by cancer. But, for individuals in lower income regions with limited resources and underfunded healthcare; the disease is felt more deeply.

A major challenge associated with cancer is the cost. Whether it is the travel time, life-saving medications, a cancer diagnosis in a family can push someone into choosing between basic necessities or life saving treatment. 

Higher income countries have necessary funding and resources for early testing, screenings, and advanced treatments. The access to greater resources can increase the detection of cancer and increase the survival rate. From the World Health Organization, more than 90% of high-income countries have extensive treatment, but less than 15% for low-income countries. This disparity leads to late diagnoses, limited access to care, and ultimately a lower survival rate. 

30-50% of cancers can be reduced by avoiding risk factors like limiting exposure to outdoor pollution and receiving vaccinations for HPV and Hepatitis B. However, access to vaccines and clean air might not all be available, which makes prevention efforts more difficult to implement. The reduced access makes populations more vulnerable to cancer. 

In the future, there are hopes for innovative solutions to reduce the burden in low income countries. While cancer has no borders, the access to adequate healthcare shouldn’t be either. 

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