The Need for INCTR

Cancer in Developing Countries

Approximately 85% of the world’s people live in low-or middle-income countries (LMIC). In 2018, Globocan estimated that there were approximately 18.1 million new cases of cancer and 9.6 million deaths from cancer in the world. The number of cancer cases continues to rise across the world, but much faster in LMIC because development brings decreased mortality from infections and with their higher fertility rates, this rapidly translates into population growth and increased numbers of patients with common non-communicable diseases, such as cancer. The birth rate subsequently declines, although population growth continues since people live longer. Eventually birth and death rates stabilize at a much lower level of both than was the case prior to development. These demographic changes are accompanied by the adoption of unhealthy lifestyles practiced in high-income countries, particularly smoking and increasingly, overeating and a sedentary lifestyle.

Resources of all kinds for treating cancer are limited in LMIC, such that patients who develop cancer frequently lack access to a facility capable of making an accurate diagnosis and providing appropriate therapy. There is a lack of drugs, a paucity of radiation therapy facilities and very few cancer specialists or other health care providers who are needed to effectively care for cancer patients. Diagnosis may be so delayed that there is little that can be done even if the patient does finally reach a facility competent to care for them. Terminal care is not widely available and regulations and attitudes are still largely directed towards preventing the misuse of opioids rather than relieving the pain of dying patients, such that patients die without symptomatic relief or little or no mental or spiritual comfort.

INCTR was established in 1998 in to address the ever-increasing burden of cancer in LMIC. INCTR is unique in that it focuses only on the developing world. It also works directly with its partners in LMIC in order to achieve its goal of helping to build sustainable capacity in LMIC through assisting these countries in cancer prevention, early diagnosis, treatment and palliative care. All clinical projects are coordinated by health professionals. Its output is information collected in the field, lives saved by cancer prevention or treatment, and improved by quality of palliative care.

INCTR is not an advocacy organization, a political lobbying organization, a granting agency or a donor of foreign aid.