Briefly: Ongoing international oncology collaboration works to empower health care workers and save lives across diverse resource environments.
Accra | International oncology experts have convened in Accra, Ghana, for a series of meetings to update cancer treatment recommendations in the National Comprehensive Cancer Network’s (NCCN) Harmonized Guidelines for Sub-Saharan Africa.
This is the most recent event in the long-running collaboration between the African Cancer Coalition (ACC), the American Cancer Society (ACS), the National Cancer Council (NCCN), and the Clinton Health Access Initiative (CHAI), which forms the group Allied Against Cancer.
Together, the organizations are focused on providing context-appropriate, evidence-based cancer care strategies that address the unique challenges faced across the region.
The NCCN Harmonized Guidelines for Sub-Saharan Africa are free resources for optimising and standardising cancer care across the region.
“The Sub-Saharan Africa region is dealing with a rising rate of cancer incidences. Standardising care based on the latest evidence-based expert consensus-driven recommendations helps ensure consistency in treatment and enables better planning for how to use available resources,” said Dr. Henry Ddungu, Senior Consultant, Hematology/Oncology; African Cancer Coalition.
“We can ensure people with cancer receive the most effective treatment by harnessing local expertise combined with global best practices.”
During the meeting, the updates to the NCCN Harmonized Guidelines for Sub-Saharan Africa will focus on caring for blood malignancies and children’s cancers, including:
- Acute Lymphoblastic Leukemia
- Acute Myeloid Leukemia
- B-cell Lymphomas
- Chronic Lymphocytic Leukemia/Small Lymphocytic Lymphoma
- Chronic Myeloid Leukemia
- Hodgkin Lymphoma
- Multiple Myeloma
- Pediatric Acute Lymphoblastic Leukemia
- Pediatric Aggressive B-Cell Lymphomas
- Pediatric Central Nervous System Cancers
- Waldenstrom’s Macroglobulinemia/Lymphoplasmcytic Lymphoma
“Since the launch of Allied Against Cancer and publication of the first NCCN Harmonized Guidelines™ for Sub-Saharan Africa in 2017, we have grown to include guidelines covering more than 90% of adult cancer incidences, and most pediatric cancers,” said Anu Agrawal, MD, Vice President, Global Cancer Support, American Cancer Society (ACS).
“We are proud of the work we’ve accomplished collaboratively and excited to see continued progress in cancer care across the region.”
“As we strive for health equity across the globe, it is vital that health care providers are equipped with the best tools and resources to deliver optimal care for a variety of different settings,” said Crystal S. Denlinger, MD, Chief Executive Officer, NCCN.
“These guidelines are a critical step for helping cancer care professionals stay current on the latest advancements in treatment. They provide a roadmap for ideal options while also taking into account the challenges that exist when delivering care in resource limited settings.”
Dr. Denlinger was joined by NCCN’s Chief Medical Officer, Wui-Jin Koh, MD, along with the following NCCN Clinical Practice Guidelines in Oncology (NCCN Guidelines®) Panel leadership:
- Ranjana H. Advani, MD, Stanford Cancer Institute
- Jessica K. Altman, MD, Robert H. Lurie Comprehensive Cancer Center of Northwestern University
- Hiroto Inaba, MD, PhD, St. Jude Children’s Research Hospital/The University of Tennessee Health Science Center
The NCCN Harmonized Guidelines™ offer color-coded tiers of treatment recommendations based on resource availability.
They cover more than 40 different cancer types, plus screening, supportive care, and specific population concerns. They have been utilized nearly 70,000 times since 2017 and have been endorsed by the Federal Ministries of Health and leading cancer centers in Ethiopia, Liberia, Malawi, Nigeria, Tanzania, Uganda, and Zambia.
About the National Comprehensive Cancer Network
The National Comprehensive Cancer Network® (NCCN®) is a not-for-profit alliance of leading cancer centers devoted to patient care, research, and education.
NCCN is dedicated to improving and facilitating quality, effective, equitable, and accessible cancer care so all patients can live better lives.
By Rachel Darwin, NCCN.
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