Treatment of cervical cancer: overcoming challenges in access to brachytherapy

ABSTRACT

Introduction

Brachytherapy is an essential component of the cervical cancer treatment paradigm as it contributes to improved clinical outcomes and overall survival. Yet brachytherapy remains globally underutilized, with disparities in access at both national and international levels.

Areas covered

The review explores current brachytherapy utilization practices and efforts being undertaken to address barriers to implementation in low-, middle-, and high-income countries, and how these efforts are projected to impact future brachytherapy access. The content presented is based on a review of published literature and the authors’ collective clinical experiences.

Expert opinion

There exists a tremendous opportunity to expand access to essential brachytherapy services for women with cervical cancer. Many national and international brachytherapy efforts exist; yet it remains imperative that such focused efforts continue to grow and provide further access to this critical treatment modality for women in need worldwide.

KEYWORDS:

• Brachytherapy
• Cervix Cancer
• global health
• global oncology
• health disparities
• gynecologic cancer
• medication education
• radiotherapy
• radiation oncology

Article highlights

• Brachytherapy is an essential component of the cervical cancer care treatment paradigm.

• - Suboptimal use of brachytherapy for cervical cancer exists globally across both high-income and low- and middle-income countries.

• Barriers to brachytherapy implementation are multifactorial and differ between countries and regions.

• Numerous promising efforts exist to increase rates access to brachytherapy care worldwide.

• Today there exists a tremendous opportunity to expand access to essential brachytherapy services for women with cervical cancer.

Declaration of interest

The authors have no relevant affiliations or financial involvement with any organization or entity with a financial interest in or financial conflict with the subject matter or materials discussed in the manuscript. This includes employment, consultancies, honoraria, stock ownership or options, expert testimony, grants or patents received or pending, or royalties.

Reviewer disclosures

Peer reviewers on this manuscript have no relevant financial or other relationships to disclose.

Additional information

Funding

Mentored Patient Oriented Career Research Development Award (1-K08CA230170-01A1) (SG).