State of Cancer Control in South America: Challenges and Advancement Strategies

Abstract

Cancer is a major public health problem in South America. The cancer mortality burden is increasing in the region due to its presentation at later stages, which is related to limited access to cancer care. This results in a noticeable inequity in provisions of cancer care including specialized screening programs, as well as cancer-related treatments such as personalized medicine, radiation therapy, palliative care, and survivorship services. Consequently, South America faces many challenges for cancer control, most of them deriving from a lack of funding and unequal distribution of resources and cancer services, affecting mostly the underserved populations in the region.

Keywords: Cancer control; Cancer prevention; Cancer screening programs; Cancer strategies; Latin America; Primary prevention; South America.