A multi-disciplinary group of experts in sub-Saharan Africa have formed a collaboration to implement a locally adapted treatment protocol to implement best practice in treating this kidney tumour.
4 Countries
7 Centres
Programme Information
Programme
Centre
Twinning
Centre
Programme
Leads
Project
Mentors
Start Date
Background
Survival from childhood cancer in sub-Saharan Africa is possible and twinning partnerships in the region have produced considerable progress. Wilms’ tumour is a relatively common and treatable kidney tumour, with survival rates of around 85% in developed countries.
Treatment is multi-disciplinary and includes the involvement of paediatricians, surgeons, nurses, radiologists and pathologists to name a few. A multi-disciplinary group of African clinicians and international experts produced a consensus treatment guideline adapted to local circumstances with emphasis on social support to enable parents to complete treatment and provision of adequate supportive care.
This guideline is now being used to treat children with Wilms’ tumour across several African centres, and the outcomes are monitored closely in order to understand the effectiveness of this treatment.
Key Activities
Problems
Limited access to diagnosis and treatment
Historical lack of a consensus treatment guideline
Little support for patients for drugs, transport and food
Families abandon treatment due to lack of social support
Inaccurate and delayed diagnosis
Little opportunity for collaboration and knowledge exchange
Lack of data collection systems or management