Navigating the challenges in and identifying the priorities for childhood cancer survivorship in Asia.

Abstract

Survival after childhood cancer has markedly improved over the past decades in Asia, leading to a growing number of survivors in the region. However, long-term care for these individuals remains a substantial challenge in Asia due to the insufficient availability of comprehensive childhood cancer survivorship programmes in the region. Many countries and regions of Asia are only beginning to acknowledge the significance of post-treatment care. In this third paper in a Series on childhood cancer control in Asia, we provide an overview of the challenges, disparities, and enablers in the provision of long-term follow-up care in Asia. These challenges include deficiencies in comprehensive care models that incorporate multidisciplinary approaches and insufficient support for school and social reintegration for childhood cancer survivors. To address these gaps, collaborative initiatives, such as twinning programmes and regional partnerships, can strengthen capacity and improve care delivery for low-income and lower-middle-income countries. Specific to some Asian cultures, the use of traditional complementary medicine underscores the need for further research to evaluate its efficacy in survivors. Leveraging existing networks and fostering regional collaboration will be pivotal in advancing equitable and sustainable survivorship care across the region.