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• NCI Cancer Bulletin for February 6, 2007 (HTML)  

On February 4, World Cancer Day, the Institute of Medicine (IOM) of the National Academies released a new report, "Cancer Control Opportunities in Low- and Middle-Income Countries." The report states that the causes of and outcomes for cancer in developing countries are different from conditions within more affluent, developed countries, and notes that a "one-size-fits-all" solution for cancer control in the developing world is impractical. Instead, IOM recommends a number of unique, resource-appropriate strategies to control and combat cancer.

The report, sponsored by NCI's Office of International Affairs (OIA) and the American Cancer Society, was developed to address the fact that cancer already represents a significant disease burden in low- and middle-income countries. The report focuses on the opportunities in these countries to improve cancer prevention, surveillance, treatment, and palliative care. . . .

The IOM report contains several recommendations. First among these is that every developing nation create a cancer control plan. It also recommends that each country sign, ratify, and implement the Framework Convention on Tobacco Control of the World Health Organization.

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