Search

The global literature is heavy with technical documents on how we should deliver cancer care, as well as policy discourses and studies on cancer services and systems. But it is woefully short on the reality of lived experiences. "Adaptations to Deliver Chemotherapy in a District Hospital: Successes and Challenges" from Malawian colleagues based in the Kumuzu University of Health Sciences in the District Hospital of the same name shines a much needed light of realism on the lived experiences of cancer. Why is this letter so important? Because it is much more than a narrative about a district hospital in a low resource country struggling to deliver basic cancer care, it is about the intricate relationship and trade-offs between patients and cancer carers in all resource constrained settings. It bears witness to a reality that feels very far away from the shining bright lights of modern cancer care with all its attendant technological trappings and choices., Competing Interests: None., (© the authors; licensee ecancermedicalscience.)

Oncology professionals in Lower and Middle Income Countries (LMICs) are facing a challenging situation with rising cancer cases together with a lack of educational support and access to relevant research. This article outlines what e cancer are doing as an organisation to try to address these issues by providing high quality education in multiple formats for free and supporting authors and readers from LMICs to access and publish research., Competing Interests: Danny Burke is the CEO of ecancer and has worked for the charity since its formation in 2017. Prof Richard Sullivan is the Chair of Trustees for the ecancer Global Foundation. Dr Eduardo Cazap is the Editor-in-Chief of ecancer’s journal (ecancermedicalscience)., (© the authors; licensee ecancermedicalscience.)

The international oncology community is in mourning. Professor Gordon McVie, the co-founder and former Editor in Chief of ecancer, passed away on 20th January 2021. His scientific achievements were broad and demonstrated a curious mind and a tireless commitment to science and cancer care. His achievements in the world of cancer are only surpassed by his kindness, enthusiasm and his love for family and friends., (© the authors; licensee ecancermedicalscience.)

In order to reduce the increasing cancer burden in Lower and Middle Income Countries (LMICs), oncology journals must support authors from underserved settings to become fully involved in the global publication system, without facing barriers to publishing their research such as geographical bias and lack of funding. ecancermedicalscience's goal has always been to publish high-quality research which contributes towards narrowing the gap between those who have access to adequate cancer prevention, treatment and care and those who do not. The time is now right for the journal to take new steps in proactively supporting authors from LMICs and the global partnerships that are vital to increasing the availability of resource-appropriate data. With this in mind, ecancermedicalscience will only be accepting submissions which feature at least one author from an LMIC, or which have a significant impact on under-resourced settings., Competing Interests: KF is employed by ecancer, UK charity no. 1176307. There are no other conflicts of interest to declare., (© the authors; licensee ecancermedicalscience.)