How will COVID-19 impact on oncology care in low and middle income countries (LMICs)?

What role can digital and other technologies play in improving cancer control in LMIC settings?

What are the implications of COVID-19 on the WHO call to eliminate cervical cancer? And how is current research in global oncology improving cancer outcomes?

These are the topics under the microscope at the 5th annual RSM global oncology event on Monday 16 November.

Taking place online this year, the webinar is part of London Global Cancer Week 2020, a leading international forum for the discussion of aspects across the cancer care continuum from prevention and diagnosis to treatment and survivorship.

London Global Cancer Week comprises six days of co-ordinated virtual discussions and events that will provide a 360° picture of the rising incidence of cancer worldwide, the global impact of the coronavirus pandemic on existing cancer treatment and research, and the UK’s contribution to strengthening capacity in cancer prevention and cancer control in lower income countries.

A multi-institutional initiative, London Global Cancer Week 2020 is supported by The Lancet Oncology in collaboration with the Royal Society of Medicine, The Centre for Universal Health at Chatham House, and the Commonwealth Secretariat.

This year’s event has expanded to include participation from, amongst others, representatives from the World Health Organization, the US National Cancer Institute Center for Global Health, the African Organisation for Research and Training in Cancer, the Latin American and Caribbean Society of Medical Oncology, the Latin American Cooperative Oncology Group, and the London School of Hygiene and Tropical Medicine.

Former RSM Oncology Section President Dr Susannah Stanway, a consultant oncologist at The Royal Marsden NHS Foundation Trust, was the meeting organiser for the first RSM global oncology event in 2016 and is a member of the London Global Cancer Week Steering Group.

She said; "The majority of the annual global 9.6 million cancer deaths are in low- and middle-income countries".

London Global Cancer Week 2020 will bring people from different backgrounds from around the world together to highlight the good work being done to improve this and what still needs urgently to be done.

Collaborative work from around the world will be showcased. The time for action is now.

Book a place for the 5th annual RSM global oncology event, taking place on Monday 16 November here.