Asia: Singapore
World cancer experts bring treatment rates into line
Over 400 of the worlds top cancer experts, researchers and policymakers will convene in Singapore for The Lancet’s Asia Medical Forum on Cancer Management in Asia in the 21st century, on 21–22 April, 2007.
The Lancet says that Asia is on the cusp of a major cancer epidemic, with the number of new cases of cancer in the region projected to rise from 3.5 million in 2002 to 8.1 million by 2020 if the existing prevention and management strategies remain unchanged. The forum will address issues, such as the provision, and future needs, of effective cancer care in the continent.
Currently there are few cancer screening programmes available in Asia and access to treatment is poor. Indonesia, for example, has less than one–eighth of the number of radiotherapy machines needed to provide sufficient coverage for the population. Research, meanwhile, only makes up a fraction of the worldwide effort. Correspondingly, the number of cancer survivors in Asia is very small compared with Europe and the USA.
Experts at the convention will focus on the ten most common cancers in the Asia–Pacific region, namely: cancers of the stomach, liver, oesophagus, mouth, colon, lung, breast, uterus, ovary and prostate. In addition, world opinion leaders will discuss the causes of cancer in Asia, health care systems and the challenges of providing effective management of the disease with limited resources.
There will also be a presentation of views on state–of–the–art techniques in the areas of diagnosis, the medical and surgical treatment of cancer [medical or surgical oncology] and radiation therapy. Furthermore, world–renowned specialists will host an educational workshop on how to run a clinical trial, to help foster new clinical research in the region.
For further information visit the Asia Medical Forum website at: www.asiamedicalforum.com
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