Radiation oncology professionals from 19 countries in Asia and the Pacific gathered in Sydney this week for a four-day workshop to improve cancer outcomes in the region by strengthening data collection, sharing, and translation.
Over 70% of cancer diagnoses are in low- and middle-income countries with close to 60% of cancer deaths in 2020 occurring in the Asia and Pacific region. Cancer remains the second leading cause of mortality in the region, responsible for approximately 4.5 million deaths in 2016. Cancer cases requiring radiotherapy are predicted to rise steeply over the next 20 years in these areas.1
The project is part of the International Atomic Energy Agency's (IAEA) global Rays of Hope initiative, which is focused on prioritising infrastructure and guidance in countries without radiotherapy or with inequitable access. A central activity in the Regional Cooperative Agreement for Research, Development and Training Related to Nuclear Science for Asia and the Pacific (RCA), this week's workshop was also supported by the Australian Department of Foreign Affairs and Trade and the Australian Nuclear Science and Technology Organisation (ANSTO).
This regional project is led by Associate Professor Mei Ling Yap, Head of the Cancer Program at The George Institute for Global Health and UNSW Sydney, and Lead Country Coordinator for radiation oncology in the RCA region.
"This workshop has been an exciting opportunity to equip radiation oncology professionals across the region with practical tools and knowledge to strengthen how cancer data is collected and used in their own, very varied circumstances at home.
We are laying the groundwork for a more unified, systematic, data-driven approach to cancer care in Asia-Pacific, which can ultimately impact policy and practice throughout the region.
By:Associate Professor Mei Ling Yap
Program Head - Oncology, The George Institute for Global Health
A primary deliverable of the project is agreement on the need for a regionally agreed Asia-Pacific Minimum Dataset for Radiation Oncology, incorporating diagnosis, staging, treatment intent, and demographics to enable a consistent standard of high-quality data points across highly diverse clinical and research settings.
Delegates to the meeting shared detailed reports on their countries' progress on using oncology information systems, explored ways to implement these systems in settings with varying resources, and took part in training sessions on governance, service planning, and research capacity. Also discussed were the ongoing challenges in aligning oncology data practices with different regulations and levels of technology.
"As the number of people diagnosed with cancer continues to rise across the region and around the world, this workshop is a crucial step toward harnessing quality metrics which aim to strengthen health systems across borders, and ultimately extend and save lives.
By:A/Prof Mei Ling Yap
"ANSTO is honoured to support this important initiative, which brings together leading experts from across our region to tackle one of the most pressing health challenges of our time. Through strengthening data collection and sharing practices in radiation oncology, we can help ensure that all countries have the tools to deliver equitable, evidence-based cancer care. This kind of collaboration exemplifies how regional partnerships can make a tangible difference to health outcomes and save lives, and builds on the success of our partnerships in cancer care through the IAEA and RCA for over 50 years.
By:Natascha Spark
Senior Manager, International Affairs, ANSTO
Nations participating are Australia, Bangladesh, Cambodia, China, Fiji, India, Indonesia, Japan, Malaysia, Mongolia, Nepal, New Zealand, Pakistan, Papua New Guinea, Philippines, Singapore, Sri Lanka, Thailand and Vietnam.
The initiative complements ongoing research by A/Prof Yap and Dr Vikneswary Batumalai, Senior Research Fellow at The George Institute, to improve cancer equity and outcomes for migrant, refugee and culturally and linguistically diverse (CALD) communities as well as Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander peoples in Australia, in collaboration with the Guunu-Maana (Heal) Program. A/Prof Yap is also a practising radiation oncologist at South-Western Sydney Local Health District.
