Cervical Cancer: A Paradigm To Understanding the Global Burden Of Disparities in Cancer Care

The incidence of cancer is higher in developed countries, but mortality is higher in developing nations. Cancer causes more deaths than HIV, TB and Malaria combined and is a low public health priority. Access to early detection and advanced diagnostic modalities has lead to a decline in mortality in developed, but not in developing countries. The most curable or clinically controllable cancers comprise those of the highest prevalence. Cervical cancer can be seen as a paradigm to understanding the global burden of disparities in access to cancer care. It is the largest single cause of years of life lost to cancer in the developing world. Cervical cancer is a preventable disease and any woman with invasive cervical cancer should be viewed as a failure of screening. Socioeconomic, psychosocial, and cultural factors are shown to be contributing barriers to access and treatment.

HPV has been implicated in some diagnosed cases of cervical cancer. The HPV vaccine can be foreseen as a means of prevention in resource-limited settings. Factors contributing to higher incidence of late stage cervical cancer diagnosis are due largely to lack of access to screening methods such as routine PAP smears. Proposed public health policy initiatives include investing in cancer and creating national control plans to improve the economic health of underserved regions. These comprehensive policies will include early detection, treatment, and the inclusion of palliative care and survivorship.