WHO publications

The World Health Organization's fight against cancer: strategies that prevent, cure and care

This brochure gives a dynamic glimpse of the many cancer control activities WHO performs. Each activity fits within the four broad approaches WHO takes to fight cancer: Prevention, Cure, Care and Manage. WHO's intensive efforts have produced dozens of strategies, recommendations and technical programmes to combat cancer, prevent needless deaths and provide appropriate care for the terminally ill. WHO has consolidated these tools for countries in a framework known as the national cancer control programme, which focuses government attention and services on all facets of the fight against cancer.

Cancer control: knowledge into action, WHO guide for effective programmes

In 2005, 7.6 million people died of cancer. More than 70% of those deaths occured in low and middle income countries. WHO has developed a series of six modules that provides practical advice for programme managers and policy-makers on how to advocate, plan and implement effective cancer control programmes, particularly in low and middle income countries.

Comprehensive Cervical Cancer Control: A guide to essential practice

Cancer is being diagnosed more and more frequently in the developing world. The recent World Health Organization report, Preventing chronic diseases: a vital investment, projected that over 7.5 million people would die of cancer in 2005, and that over 70% of these deaths would be in low- and middle-income countries. This easy-to-use guide - produced by WHO and its partners - is designed to provide comprehensive practical advice to health care providers at all levels of the health care system on how to prevent, detect early, treat and palliate cervical cancer.

Cancer Pain Release

Cancer Pain Release is the publication of the World Health Organization global communications program to improve cancer pain control and palliative and supportive care. Cancer Pain Release is dedicated to keeping a worldwide and multidisciplinary audience in the health professions and government abreast of relevant information and developments in clinical medicine, education and policy.

Strategies to Improve and Strengthen Cancer Control Programmes in Europe

This report is a product of consultation undertaken by WHO with 17 European countries aimed to strengthen collaborative efforts to improve cancer control programmes in Europe to reduce the cancer burden, to reduce cancer inequalities, and to achieve the best possible quality of life for cancer patients and their families. A firm basis was established for the development and refinement of cancer control programmes in Europe by analysing the extent and trends of the cancer problem and current cancer control strategies, with special focus upon performance evaluation of such strategies. There are performance gaps in the cancer control programmes of all countries in Europe. Currently the major emphasis is put on diagnosis and treatment and quite often prevention, early detection and palliative care are neglected and not integrated in the national plans.

THE FULL REPORT IS AVAILABLE ELECTRONICALLY

A Community Health Approach to Palliative Care for HIV/AIDS and Cancer Patients in Sub-Saharan Africa

This monograph describes the current status and achievements of a joint project among five countries - Botswana, Ethiopia, United Republic of Tanzania, Uganda, Zimbabwe – and the WHO. This report intends to guide the national health planners and public health programme managers within and outside Africa to conduct their own situation analysis and assessment of palliative care needs for HIV/AIDS and cancer patients. In countries with severely limited resources, a community health approach relying extensively on home-based care and community involvement in the provision of symptom control, psychosocial support and end-of-life care is recommended in order to improve the quality of life of patients suffering from chronic life-threatening conditions. At least one in every 200 individuals each year in Africa needs palliative care and there are clear gaps in the ability of existing health services to provide even basic palliative care. About 1.6 million individuals (one percent) of the population in these countries need palliative care services annually. The greatest needs of terminally ill patients were for adequate pain relief, accessible and affordable drugs, and financial support.

THE FULL REPORT IS AVAILABLE ELECTRONICALLY

Cervical Cancer Screening in Developing Countries

This publication is the product of a comprehensive consultation undertaken by WHO in 2001, involving leading experts in the field of cancer epidemiology, screening and treatment. It is part of WHO's commitment to provide evidence-based guidelines to decision makers and a recognition of the priority that should be given to cervical cancer screening and treatment as an essential component of any comprehensive national cancer control programme. The report focuses particularly on the situation in low and middle income countries - countries in which cervical cytology screening may not be feasible or cost effective.

It documents the current state of evidence concerning alternative tests - Visual inspection with Acetic acid (VIA) and Human Papillomavirus (HPV) testing. It reviews trials that are currently being undertaken, and gives policy makers an indication of developments that are likely to emerge in the near future. However, it also emphasizes that the efficient and effective functioning of the system in its entirety is central to the success of any screening programme, irrespective of the screening method chosen.

THE FULL REPORT IS AVAILABLE ELECTRONICALLY

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Planning and implementing cervical cancer prevention and control programs: A manual for managers

This manual is designed to help health professionals develop a new cervical cancer prevention program or strengthen an existing program. The manual provides information on how to organize and implement a program, recognizing that various service delivery options are needed for different geographic and cultural settings and a range of resource levels.

The World Cancer Report

The World Cancer Report 2008 provides a comprehensive overview of cancer for all those working in the field of health-care and research, and the general reader as well. It presents information on cancer patterns, diagnosis, causes and prevention concisely, clearly outlining the growing public health crisis. Simultaneously, there is a clear message of hope: although cancer is a great and growing devastating disease, it is largely preventable.

Global Action Against Cancer - Now!

The burden of cancer is growing and 24.6 million people are presently living with cancer with more than half living in developing countries. Nearly 7 million people die each year of cancer. Cancer represents a tremendous burden on patients, families, and societies. It is one of the leading causes of death in the world and is still increasing, particularly in developing countries. Around 43% of cancer deaths are due to tobacco use, unhealthy diet, and infection.

However, 2 million lives can be saved by 2020 if appropriate measures are put in place to prevent, early detect, cure and care. This advocacy brochure describes the rising trend of cancer cases worldwide and the need to take a concerted action against cancer. ISBN 92 4 159314 8 (English) -- ISBN 92 4 259314 1 (French) -- ISBN 92 4 359314 5 (Spanish) © WORLD HEALTH ORGANIZATION 2005

National cancer control programmes

download the national cancer control programmes report

This monograph provides guidance for policy-makers and others on the establishment of national cancer control programmes. It outlines the scientific basis of feasible approaches to the control of cancer, and considers possibilities for prevention, early detection, cure and care. It discusses the appropriateness of particular technologies, and describes how to manage national programmes tailored to different resource settings. ISBN 92 4 154557 7 Swiss francs 42.--/US $37.80 In developing countries: Swiss francs 29.40 Order no. 1152422 © WORLD HEALTH ORGANIZATION 2002

Cancer Pain Relief and Palliative Care in Children

Almost all children with cancer will experience pain - as a direct result of the disease, as a side-effect of treatments or invasive clinical procedures, or as an aspect of psychological distress. In more than 70% of cases, that pain will at some stage become severe. Although means to relieve pain are widely available, in developed and developing countries alike, their use in children has often been very limited. Fears of drug "addiction", lack of knowledge of children's perception of pain and illness, use of inappropriate drug doses, and failure to understand the value of supportive, non-drug measures have all contributed to widespread inadequacy in the control of pain in children with cancer. ISBN 92 4 154512 7 Price Swiss fr 18 - Price for developing countries: Swiss fr. 12.60 © WORLD HEALTH ORGANIZATION 1998

Symptom Relief in Terminal Illness

Incurable diseases cause the death of tens of millions of people every year, mostly in developing countries. While it is unlikely that this situation will change significantly in the short term, there is much that can be done to relieve the suffering that is an inevitable feature od such disease. Complementing the WHO's guidelines on the management of cancer pain, now in a second edition, this book is aimed at health professionals of all levels who are concerned with the care and comfort of patients with terminal diseases. ISBN 92 4 154507 0 Price Swiss fr 25 - Price in developing countries Swiss fr 17.50 © WORLD HEALTH ORGANIZATION 1998

Cancer Pain Relief and Palliative Care

In this report, the WHO Expert Committee considers the supportive care needed by cancer patients and explores the reasons why this care is often denied. It is argued that palliative care, which seeks to control pain, manage other physical symptoms, and provide psycho-social and spiritual support, should be an integral part of cancer care. The need for legislative changes to increase the availability of pain relieving drugs, for education in palliative care, and for the establishment of national policies to guide the implementation of palliative care programmes is also discussed. ISBN 92 4 120804 X Price Swiss fr. 9 - Price in developing countries Swiss fr. 6.30 © WORLD HEALTH ORGANIZATION 1990

Cancer Pain Relief with a Guide to Opiod Availability

This second edition takes into account the advances in understanding and practice that have occurred since the mid-1980s. Each part of the book has been thoroughly revised and updated, and a new section added, describing the international system by which morphine and other opioids are made available to patients who need them. This part will be of interest not only to health care workers but also to drug regulators responsible for implementing the Single Convention on Narcotic Drugs at the national level ISBN 92 4 154482 1 Price Swiss fr. 17 - Price in developing countries Swiss fr. 11.90 © WORLD HEALTH ORGANIZATION 1996

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