MSF Demonstrates Cancer Care Feasibility in Crisis Zones, Calls for Global Investment

At the World Cancer Congress in Hong Kong, Médecins Sans Frontières (MSF) presented evidence that comprehensive cancer care is achievable even in fragile settings. In Mali, MSF and partners treated more than 2,300 women with breast or cervical cancer between 2021 and 2025. A retrospective study showed early‑stage diagnosis rates for cervical cancer rose from 14 % in 2019 to 28 % in 2022, while breast‑cancer survival reached 91 % after one year and 72 % after three years, though 30 % of patients were lost to follow‑up. In Malawi, MSF’s Blantyre program expanded cervical‑cancer screening from 40 % in 2019 to nearly 60 % last year and participated in the PAVE study, which combined HPV genotyping with AI‑assisted visual evaluation to improve detection of precancerous lesions. Despite these gains, MSF highlighted persistent barriers—high costs, drug shortages, and weak supply chains—that prevent many patients from accessing timely diagnostics and treatment. The organization urged governments and donors to prioritize affordable, adaptable cancer services in low‑resource contexts.