The International Cancer Corps [ICC] is one of the American Society of Clinical Oncology International Programs. ASCO supports Health Volunteers Overseas (HVO), to operationalise this program of partnering with low and middle income countries to strengthen cancer care in medical centres.
ASCO also has a range of Workshops with Volunteer International Faculty which pair with either individual hospitals or national Cancer Organisations. Topics include Multidisciplinary Cancer Management, International Clinical Trials, International Palliative Care, Cancer Control in Primary Care.
HVO/ASCO has current programs in Nepal, Bhutan, Honduras, Uganda and Vietnam. I have previously led the Hue program as well as joined multidisciplinary cancer workshops in Vietnam and the Philippines.
The Hue program had over 88 volunteers visit over five years. The average of four groups per year would over a 2-week period cover a particular organ cancer and its management. To achieve the goal of enhancing multidisciplinary care the stated goal of our hosts, we had a core of at least one medical, radiation and surgical oncologist and senior nurse practitioner/team. Often supplemented with palliative care, pharmacy, anatomical pathology and on one occasion each, psych-oncology and radiation therapy. The format included didactic lectures, participation in tumour boards, individual clinician visits to their clinics or theatre or radiation planning, daily ward rounds and demonstration multidisciplinary tumour boards involving local and visiting faculty with local cases prepared and presented.
Planning and implementation issues and the ongoing process of measuring outcomes are key issues. Of paramount importance is a joint approach to identifying realistic goals, in partnership with the host organisation and ensuring broad internal support and Champions within the local leadership in each targeted speciality. Cultural awareness is a key issue to be sensitive to in planning. The relative benefits of single craft group and multidisciplinary teams and development of a core faculty will be discussed. As will opportunities to link these programs with mentorship and career and research development of junior faculty, and new program directors from visiting volunteers.
The joys of interacting with an international multidisciplinary faculty are immense as is the delight of learning from our colleagues in other countries and understanding the challenges they face and overcome is both humbling and rewarding. Joining is easy, new volunteers are always welcome.