Cancers de l’enfant et sous-développement: l’exemple de l’Afrique.

In all developing countries, childhood cancer care runs into a number of common hurdles: poverty, poorly functioning healthcare systems, incompetence, and inequalities. In Africa, with its complex geopolitical situation, all such problems are compounded. The Groupe Franco-Africain d’Oncologie Pédiatrique provides onsite cancer care to African children. Its activities include the training of physicians and nurses, clinical trials of treatment protocols (Burkitt’s lymphoma and Wilms’ tumor), provision of medicines, and coverage of medical examination fees in the areas where the problems exist. After five years of study and 1000 cases, the preliminary findings are promising: it is possible to treat childhood cancer in Africa. This work is ongoing. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]