In developing countries like Ethiopia, Cancer to Triple

June 3rd, 2009 | EthioPolitics.com |

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Ethiopia, a country with a population of 40 million people had only one oncologist and no cat-scan till 4 years ago when Astrazeneca launched an anti-cancer program
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Cancer incidence is predicted to increase in the coming decades and particularly in developing countries.

In the 45th annual meeting of the American Society for Clinical Oncology (ASCO) held in Orlando from May, 29 to June, 2, Oncologist Richard Silsky underlined the need for more individualized and effective as well as less expensive treatments to deal with the rising cancer incidence.

There is need for new approach of patients as well as diagnosis and treatment.

According to the world Health Organization, number of people diagnosed with cancer will rise to 26.4 million of which 17 million will die, triple the number of today’s patients. He also said that deaths from cancer have dropped in the US in the last 15 years, however, the number is double among Americans who have no medical insurance and it is estimated to some 40 million.

In developing countries the situation is very bad where cancer incidence outnumbers AIDS, tuberculosis and malaria.

Apart from inefficient means to treat cancer in developing countries there is also ignorance on the seriousness of the situation.

An example is Ethiopia, a country with a population of 40 million people which had only one oncologist and no cat scan till 4 years ago when Astrazeneca launched an anti-cancer program.