Millions of people worldwide are dying from cancer because of inadequate therapy

Millions of cancer patients worldwide die because of lack of treatment
In recent decades, tremendous progress has been made in cancer therapies. However, not all patients benefit from it. In poor countries, millions of cancer sufferers die each year because they are not treated.

Many patients do not benefit from medical progress
Enormous amounts of manpower and money have been invested in better cancer research for decades. Significant progress has also been made in some areas of diagnosis and therapy. For example, today some types of cancer, such as breast or colon cancer, are more recognizable or more treatable. However, not all patients benefit from medical advances. Millions of cancer patients worldwide are still dying each year due to a lack of appropriate therapy. This is the result of a study published in the current issue of the journal "The Lancet Oncology" and presented at a congress in Vienna.

Every year millions of people worldwide die of cancer because they do not receive the right therapy. (Image: Photographee.eu/fotolia.com)

Billions of investments would be needed
Thus, many countries lack both appropriate surgical interventions and the necessary equipment for radiotherapy, the researchers write elsewhere in the magazine. Of the approximately twelve million cancer patients, for whom radiotherapy could help, this treatment method benefits only 40 to 60 percent, according to the responsible commission of the congress. According to the scientists about 27 million years of life could be saved if by 2035 about 90 billion euros would be invested in equipment for radiotherapy.

Patients have to forego treatment for financial reasons
Richard Sullivan of King's College, London, told AFP that in the low-income countries, only one out of every 20 patients is undergoing elementary surgical care at present. In middle-income countries, on the other hand, the reference value is one in five patients. According to the experts, in the less rich countries about every third cancer patient becomes impoverished if operated. In view of the high costs, a quarter of people with cancer abstain from treatment. (Ad)