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Key research themes
1. How do cultural perceptions and social narratives influence cancer experiences and care across different societies?
This theme investigates the varied cultural scripts and social interpretations of cancer in different global contexts, emphasizing how these shape patient identity, care-seeking behavior, and treatment adherence. It matters because dominant Western biomedical models often fail to capture the lived realities and socio-cultural meanings of cancer in non-Western populations, which affects the efficacy of interventions and patient outcomes.
Key finding: The paper identifies two distinct cultural scripts for cancer: a Western patient-centred model focusing on personal transformation and survivorship activism versus a non-Western family-centred model prioritizing the... Read more
Key finding: Supporting the cultural scripts framework, this study highlights how immigrant and developing country populations negotiate cancer meanings often contrasting strongly with Western biomedical expectations. For example, Puerto... Read more
Key finding: This paper analyzes how contemporary cancer culture in Western contexts constructs the 'good patient' archetype emphasizing willpower, openness, and moral responsibility for illness management. Patients who deviate from these... Read more
Key finding: The authors review qualitative studies in diverse LMIC contexts illustrating how patient and caregiver interpretations of cancer causes are often infused with moral judgments and social meanings that diverge from biomedical... Read more
Key finding: Echoing prior findings, this work dissects the importance of in-depth ethnographic approaches to capture patients’ illness narratives and social contexts, revealing discrepancies between biomedical paradigms and local... Read more
2. What historical, epidemiological, and infrastructural factors contribute to the burden and management of cancer in low- and middle-income countries (LMICs) and conflict zones?
This theme explores the historical trajectory of cancer burdens in LMICs and areas affected by conflict, focusing on epidemiological trends, healthcare infrastructure, registries, and policy challenges. Understanding these dimensions is critical for developing contextually appropriate cancer control strategies and addressing disparities in diagnosis and treatment.
Key finding: This review establishes that while cancer was rarely documented historically in India, incidence and mortality have risen sharply in recent decades, exacerbated by demographic shifts and lifestyle changes. It also highlights... Read more
Key finding: The study reveals that only about two-thirds of surveyed population-based cancer registries collect Indigenous status information, and quality assessments of this data are often lacking. Given significant disparities in... Read more
Key finding: Examining the Middle East, this paper details how ongoing conflicts have severely disrupted cancer diagnostic services through destruction of infrastructure, emigration of healthcare professionals, and lack of financial... Read more
Key finding: The article discusses the formation and mission of AORTIC to address Africa’s growing cancer burden amidst challenges of poverty, inadequate healthcare infrastructure, and workforce shortages. It emphasizes the organization's... Read more
Key finding: This review identifies critical gaps in cancer research and data infrastructure in LMICs, noting that only a small fraction of global clinical trials are conducted in these regions. The paper calls for tailored research... Read more
3. How can interdisciplinary integration of humanities and biomedical sciences enhance person-centered cancer care and address ethical, social, and epistemological challenges in oncology?
This research theme captures efforts to bridge oncology with humanities disciplines, including philosophy, ethics, and anthropology, to produce holistic, humane cancer care frameworks. It also reflects on conceptual models of cancer beyond reductionism, advocating for synthesis approaches that incorporate complexity and patient-centered ethics, which is crucial for improving care quality and healthcare provider sensitivity.
Key finding: The paper introduces an innovative postgraduate training program that integrates conceptual, sociological, anthropological, and ethical dimensions with oncology practice. This Oncohumanities approach challenges traditional... Read more
Key finding: This work critiques the dominant Somatic Mutation Theory in cancer research and presents the Tissue Organization Field Theory as an anti-reductionist alternative emphasizing systemic tissue-level dynamics and emergent... Read more
Key finding: By analyzing global disparities in cancer diagnostics, molecular technologies, and reimbursement mechanisms, this paper underscores the importance of integrating molecular and systems approaches with careful socio-political... Read more
Key finding: This ethnographic study elucidates the emic concepts of cancer ('mareng') within Thai traditional medicine, contrasting them with biomedical notions. It identifies local diagnostic criteria and plant-based treatments,... Read more
Key finding: The ethnographic research reveals how cancer patients engage in emotional labor by curating narratives and affective expressions in online crowdfunding campaigns to garner financial support. This process shapes the lived... Read more