PMID: 15373715Sep 18, 2004Paper

Fight against cancer in countries with limited resources: the post-genomic era scenario

Asian Pacific Journal of Cancer Prevention : APJCP
Sanjoy Kumar Pal, Balraj Mittal

Abstract

The enormous advances in science and technology in the 20th century have facilitated the process of globalization with the aim of a better quality of life for all. Paradoxically, the gap between the rich and the poor, for both nations and people, is constantly widening. The actual trends in human genome research are leading towards promising genomic medicine, but it will be expensive and inaccessible for many. Also, it may not offer a quick fix "cure" for various types of cancers. The biggest challenge before the clinicians now is the management of the rising incidence of cancer in developing countries, with little prospect of more resources becoming available to fight the disease. The death rate from cancer in the developing countries is set to rise at least 3-fold by the year 2025 largely due to the increased life expectancy, containment of infectious diseases and changing lifestyles. It is estimated that about 50% of cancers are curable if they are detected early and treated appropriately. Screening has a major role in early diagnosis. However, in the developing world around 80% of cancer patients have late stage incurable disease when they are diagnosed. Moreover, in a developing country like India, about 70% of the populat...Continue Reading

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