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Anybody know of ways to get involved with sharing the technology of radiation oncology with developing countries? For instance with a short-term international rad onc elective/rotation?
Anybody know of ways to get involved with sharing the technology of radiation oncology with developing countries? For instance with a short-term international rad onc elective/rotation?
Do you fella's think that's its the greatest utilization of resources to advance radiation onc in developing countries? I know I'm probably asking the wrong crowd... but to a non rad onc physician interested in international health, that seems a huge allocation of resources- I am presuming establishing the infrastructure for a properly functioning facility for your field requires quite an investment- in locations where basic health needs are still unmet. I'm not saying that you shouldn't cure cancer in Africa... to me, it seems like taking care of basic vaccinations, treatable infections, and basic surgeries are the first priority. Thoughts?
I beg to differ here.To be honest, I can see your arguement. However, most of the donated equipment is older (i.e too old to be of use in US) but in good working order. Thus the only cost is getting the equipment shipped. Procedures are very basic and largely palliative. Chances are if you don't have the resources to afford new equipment you also don't have robust screening measures in place.
I know a physicist who has donated old physics equipment to a third world rad onc clinic and its made a huge difference in their center. A little goes along way!
You are correct. These should be and are a first priority.Do you fella's think that's its the greatest utilization of resources to advance radiation onc in developing countries? I know I'm probably asking the wrong crowd... but to a non rad onc physician interested in international health, that seems a huge allocation of resources- I am presuming establishing the infrastructure for a properly functioning facility for your field requires quite an investment- in locations where basic health needs are still unmet. I'm not saying that you shouldn't cure cancer in Africa... to me, it seems like taking care of basic vaccinations, treatable infections, and basic surgeries are the first priority. Thoughts?
Excellent idea.Hey 3dtp,
When I was in Ghana the Cobalt-60 they were using had not had a source change in 15 years b/c they could not afford it Any idea how much something like that costs? If it were a reasonable endeavor, I'd love to try to raise the dough for them..
Hey 3dtp,
When I was in Ghana the Cobalt-60 they were using had not had a source change in 15 years b/c they could not afford it Any idea how much something like that costs? If it were a reasonable endeavor, I'd love to try to raise the dough for them..
This is correct, if the GK can be reloaded in the field at all. Leksell, at least in some of the older of the more recent designs could not field-reload them at all, thus requiring them to be sent back to Uppsaala. I'm not sure if they completely solved this problem, but I do know that Pitt had to "exchange/upgrade" at least one unit when the sources were highly depleted and I think the Detroit GK had to do the same with their original unit. And the operative words here are "hundreds of thousands ," plural!The going rate for a source change on a Gamma Knife is hundreds of thousands of dollars, but that's for 201 small sources. I'm not sure what it would cost for one larger source.
Hey 3dtp,
When I was in Ghana the Cobalt-60 they were using had not had a source change in 15 years b/c they could not afford it Any idea how much something like that costs? If it were a reasonable endeavor, I'd love to try to raise the dough for them..