Nazik Hammad: Thoroughly enjoyed this AORTIC medical oncology SIG case discussion on metastatic Colorectal Cancer

Nazik Hammad shared a post by AORTIC- Africa on LinkedIn, adding:

“I thoroughly enjoyed this AORTIC medical oncology SIG case discussion on metastatic Colorectal Cancer (CRC). A case from Ethiopia and another from Nigeria.

Some of the highlights:

• CRC is happening in young and very young patients in Africa.
•  Financial contraints affect access to the three main drugs 5FU/cape, oxaliplatin and irinotecan. Which is also affected by access to supportive medications, universal access to these cancer medicines is a must. bottom line is how to make the best use of the cheapest drugs, make them available and tolerable
  3- drugs used in refractory metastatic CRC such as TAS-102 or regrofanib have little role given huge cost even for the very few affluent with little benefit and significant toxicities.
• MMR deficient CRC more common in West Africa compared to East Africa? More studies needed and even if the data confirms that a substantial number of patients can benefit from immunotherapy, what difference does it make if it is too expensive? Pembro may have made it to the World Health Organization (WHO) essential cancer medicine list but only the very very affluent can afford it in LMIC.
• Why so many young Africans are developing CRC? This epidemiological shift in countries in transition needs to be investigated.
• Young CRC cancer patients in Africa face similar challenges in early diagnosis as young patients in HIC. Their symptoms are not recognized early as there is very low index of suspicion at the level of primary care and frontline providers. Awareness and campaigns are needed.
• African oncologists are now functioning autonomously. Sharing knowledge, experiences and wisdom about clinical practices across the continent. Way to go

Superb presentations and discussions. So happy to see the AORTIC medical oncology SIG excelling under new and young leadership. As the previous chair of the AORTIC medical oncology SIG, what more can I ask for ?”

Quoting AORTIC- Africa’s post:

“Register now for the Medical Oncology SIG, Case study on Metastatic Colorectal Cancer management in resource limited setting taking place tomorrow Tuesday 30 July 2024 at 6pm SAST. Registration link.”

lol

Source: Nazik Hammad/LinkedIn and AORTIC- Africa/LinkedIn

Nazik Hammad is a Professor at the Division of Hematology and Oncology, St. Michael’s Hospital, University of Toronto. She is the Chair of the Education and Training Committee of the African Organization for Research and Training in Cancer (AORTIC). Dr. Hammad is a visiting professor at the University of Nairobi, Kenya.

She is the co-chair of the Network for Advancing Black Learners (Medical Students and Residents) in Ontario. Her academic work and research interests include medical education and workforce development in low and middle-income countries (LMIC) particularly in sub-Saharan Africa.