The International Atomic Energy Agency global initiatives on nasopharyngeal cancer treatment.
Since its establishment in 1957, the International Atomic Energy Agency (IAEA) has striven to promote global access to reliable and affordable radiotherapy, with much of its latest focus being in developing countries. While nasopharyngeal cancer (NPC) is highly curable by radiotherapy with excellent outcomes in developed countries, the outcomes in low- and middle-income countries (LMICs) are disappointing. Although the reasons for this are complex and multifactorial, improving the accessibility and quality of radiotherapy in these countries is fundamental. With concerted effort from experts and advocates around the world, ongoing initiatives are supported by the IAEA to combat the challenges in LMICs.
Department of Clinical Oncology, LKS Faculty of Medicine, The University of Hong Kong, Hong Kong, China.
Ka-On
KO
Lam
Department of Clinical Oncology, LKS Faculty of Medicine, The University of Hong Kong, 102 Pokfulam Road, Hong Kong, China. awmlee@hku.hk.
Anne W M
AW
Lee
Department of Clinical Oncology, Pamela Youde Nethersole Eastern Hospital, Hong Kong, China.
Wai-Tong
WT
Ng
International Atomic Energy Agency, Vienna, Austria.
Kirsten I
KI
Hopkins
D003906:Developing Countries; D014943:Global Health; D006297:Health Services Accessibility; D006801:Humans; D007182:Income; D007390:International Agencies; D009303:Nasopharyngeal Neoplasms / Q000532:radiotherapy*; D009678:Nuclear Energy
International Atomic Energy Agency (IAEA); Nasopharyngeal cancer (NPC); low-middle income countries; radiotherapy access