Reflections from the World Cancer Leaders' Summit

There is no doubt that cancer is a global problem. Data from the World Health Organization in 2020 showed that the disease is a leading cause of death worldwide, accounting for nearly one in six deaths. This figure equates to nearly 10 million deaths, each one a family member or friend that was taken too soon. 

Many of these deaths are avoidable. In the UK, we estimate that four in ten cancer cases could be prevented, a stark statistic that is deeply concerning, but also gives us hope that outcomes for people affected by cancer can be vastly improved. 

Tobacco control 

One of the main themes discussed at the World Cancer Leaders’ Summit in California this week was tobacco use, the leading cause of cancer and poverty worldwide. I enjoyed hearing the thoughts of Vandana Shah, who spoke powerfully about the global fight on tobacco control and the tactics of the tobacco industry in minimising the impact that newly introduced measures will have on their bottom line.  

Several of the global cancer leaders that I spoke with praised the recent announcement from UK Prime Minister, Rishi Sunak, to create a smokefree generation by raising the age of sale. By setting a positive example, as New Zealand did almost two years ago, other countries will be keen to follow.  

No one individual, organisation or country can beat cancer alone and by sharing knowledge, expertise and experience, there is so much that can be learned. Cancer control in a changing world requires a collective solution if we’re to address the difficult challenges we’re facing, and through the work of the International Cancer Control Partnership (ICCP), we have evidence-based principles underpinning cancer control plans. 

Cervical cancer 

Another of my highlights from the summit was listening to Jeannette Kagame, the First Lady of Rwanda, who shared the progress taking place in tackling cervical cancer. The fourth most common cancer in women around the world, cervical cancer leads to more than 300,000 deaths each year, with nine in ten deaths in low- and middle- income countries. This, despite the fact that it is both preventable and curable if detected early and managed effectively.  

The research of Cancer Research UK (CRUK) has shown that the preventative human papillomavirus (HPV) vaccine cuts cases of cervical cancer by over 90%. As such, incidence and mortality has greatly reduced in the UK and other high-income countries, but the burden of the disease remains huge in places where access to public health services is limited, and screening and treatment have not been widely implemented. Progress is being made though, as highlighted by Jeannette, with the WHO developing an initiative to eliminate cervical cancer as a public health problem. 

A positive outlook 

It’s hard not to feel positive about the future when reflecting on the expert panels and conversations I had with peers. There’s so much to learn from one another, whether sharing experiences on children and young people’s cancer, early diagnosis and detection, innovation, or the many other areas that we covered.  

As we prepare to publish our Manifesto for Cancer Research and Care next month, this was a good opportunity to review best practice internationally. There’s much to improve on in the UK and, of course, success is often dependent on excellent implementation. I’m optimistic about what can be achieved having seen the strengthening of a global network in its commitment to unite the cancer community and improve the lives of all those affected by it.