Olubukola Ayodele, Breast Cancer Lead at University Hospitals of Leicester NHS Trust, shared on LinkedIn:
“Breast cancer and Global Oncology are two of my passions, so it was a real pleasure recently to combine both as an invited international speaker and Visiting Professor to nine cancer institutions across five cities in China, as part of a breast cancer global roundtable.
Over several days, we discussed the rapidly evolving management of breast cancer. I shared my expertise, but just as importantly, I listened and learned.
China is huge, both geographically and in population. Delivering cancer care at that scale means thinking differently about how services are organised, and it was striking to see not only the investment going into oncology, but how services have evolved around the realities of caring for such a large population.
One example was their surgical training, which includes learning how to give neoadjuvant and adjuvant systemic treatments. Patients are still discussed at MDT, so oncology input remains central to the treatment plan, but many patients can start treatment without first waiting for a separate medical/clinical oncology appointment.
My immediate thought was: imagine what that could do to waiting times.
One of the things I love about Global Oncology is that it constantly reminds me that there is more than one way to do things.
Having experienced healthcare systems in different parts of the world, I have learnt that no system has all the answers.
The real value of Global Oncology is the opportunity to sit together, compare experiences, ask questions and learn from what is working elsewhere.
Because cancer outcomes are not determined by science alone. They are shaped by our health systems. By access. By workforce. By culture. By trust. By community.
A huge thank you to the organisers and to the Heads of Department and teams across all nine institutions for the warm welcome, the thoughtful discussions and the generosity in sharing their experiences.
I’ve returned home with new perspectives, new relationships and quite a few ideas.
I look forward to seeing what grows from these conversations.”
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