JCO special World Cancer Day issue on equitable access to cancer care

The “Close the care gap” campaign for World Cancer Day 2022-2024 aims to raise awareness about the significant barriers to cancer care that exist for many people around the world due to their race, ethnicity, socioeconomic background, age, gender, sexual orientation, physical and mental abilities, and geographical location.

Aligned with this campaign theme and to mark World Cancer Day on 4 February, JCO Global Oncology published today a special issue of articles addressing a range of disparities in access to quality cancer care around the world. 

The issue is prefaced with a guest editorial by UICC President, Prof. Jeff Dunn AO, and the articles were selected by UICC staff. They provide an overview of how inequities in cancer care play out in various ways, in different sectors and regions of the world – and how the challenges are being addressed.

In particular, there are articles on expanding access to radiotherapy, an essential component of cancer treatment; essential and affordable cancer medicines in India; the efficacy of educational videos to empower patients and improve knowledge of cancer to better prevent it; reducing financial toxicity in Mexico; engaging people with cancer as advocates to increase equitable access to care; inequities in Europe; strategies used by Native American cancer survivors to restore quality of life; and developing culturally sensitive models of care.

JCO Global Oncology is an online-only, open-access journal focused on cancer care, research, and care delivery issues unique to countries and settings with limited healthcare resources. It was developed in partnership between UICC and the American Society of Clinical Oncology (ASCO) to provide a new channel of communication for the global cancer community. 

Launched in 2015, it is the first peer-reviewed journal providing a new platform for sharing innovations, best practice, and programmatic success in cancer control in settings with limited healthcare resources.