Challenges in Oncologic Preparedness: A Retrospective Review of Incident Surgical Cancers During Pacific Partnership Missions, 2008-2016.

CONCLUSIONS: Despite current policies to screen out cancer patients on USNS Mercy missions, 9% of surgical biopsies were malignant. Cancer management during these missions presents a unique challenge because of limited resources for surgery, chemoradiotherapy, and follow-up care. Contingency plans must be considered to provide completion of care for these patients whose cancers are discovered incidentally. Furthermore, an understanding of host nation capabilities in relation to medical and surgical care is crucial to providing treatment in resource-limited areas. PMID: 33372673 [PubMed - as supplied by publisher]
Source: Military Medicine - Category: International Medicine & Public Health Tags: Mil Med Source Type: research