Prof Richard Sullivan speaks to ecancer about ecancer’s special issue regarding women's cancers in fragile and conflict-affected settings. Nearly two-thirds of women who develop breast cancer in the world live in fragile and conflict-affected countries, which means it is essential to develop adequate services in this area.

Prof Sullivan emphasises the negative effect on mortality rates which the lack of efficient cancer services in low and middle-income countries causes, and how using an entrepreneurial framework around grass roots socio-clinical change can make a difference.

The series features a collaboration between researchers in Zambia, the Democratic Republic of Congo (DRC), and the USA with the aim of improving outcomes in women's cancers. Topics covered include the adoption of a novel rapid radical surgical training model for early stage cervical cancer applied to the specific needs and context in the DRC, the innovative implementation of detection and treatment services for cervical and breast cancer, and a partnership with a non-profit organisation to purchase affordable basic chemotherapy.

The Dikembe Mutombo Foundation, Friends of Africa, Inc. and the Howard G. Buffett Foundation kindly supported this project.

Read the full Special Issue here in ecancermedicalscience.