Layth Mula-Hussain, Radiation Oncologist at BC Cancer, shared on LinkedIn:
“New Publication in JCO Global Oncology, Cancer Care in Conflict-Affected Middle Eastern Countries
I am pleased to share our newly published review article in JCO Global Oncology, an official journal of the American Society of Clinical Oncology (ASCO), published today, November 4, 2026.
Conflict and the Cancer Care Continuum in the Middle East: Effects, Economic Burden, and Actionable Solutions.
It has been a privilege to collaborate with a distinguished international group of experts on this important and timely topic.
Armed conflicts do not only destroy hospitals and displace healthcare professionals. They disrupt the entire cancer care continuum—from prevention and early detection to diagnosis, treatment, survivorship, and palliative care.
Our review examines the consequences of prolonged conflict and instability across several Middle Eastern countries, including Iraq, Syria, Yemen, Gaza, Lebanon, and others.
Beyond identifying the challenges, our paper proposes actionable solutions, including:
- Strengthening international collaboration and cross-border cancer care pathways.
- Expanding tele-oncology, mobile oncology services, and decentralized diagnostics.
- Protecting essential medicines, radiotherapy infrastructure, and supply chains.
- Addressing the financial and psychological burdens experienced by patients and their families.
- Developing a phased operational framework for cancer care during immediate crises, early recovery, and post-conflict reconstruction.
One of our central messages is that cancer care must be recognized as an essential component of humanitarian healthcare, not an optional service during armed conflict.
As someone who has witnessed the challenges of cancer care in conflict-affected settings, this subject holds particular professional and personal significance.
My sincere appreciation to all my coauthors, particularly Gohar Geghamyan, Gevorg Tamamyan, Jemma Arakelyan, MD, PhD, Richard Sullivan and our international collaborators, for their leadership, expertise, and dedication.
I hope this work contributes to further discussions among oncology professionals, policymakers, humanitarian organizations, and international health agencies on how to protect and restore cancer services for vulnerable populations.”
Title: Conflict and the Cancer Care Continuum in the Middle East: Effects, Economic Burden, and Actionable Solutions
Authors: Gohar Geghamyan, Sona Karamyan, Maryam Fanian, Samah Mutasim Alfadul, Hojung Choe, Marium Husain, Gevorg Tamamyan, Richard Sullivan, Omar Shamieh, Andre Ilbawi, Abla Sibai, Layth Mula-Hussain, Maria V. Babak, Jemma Arakelyan
Read the Full Article.
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