A 55-year-old East African woman presents with a palpable mass in her right breast that has been present for several years. You are concerned for cancer and know her case fatality rate is significantly higher than a similar patient in North America. Why?
A. Later presentation to carePatients in LMICs bear a substantial proportion of the global burden of cancer morbidity and mortality. In the year 2030, the proportion of new cancer cases from LMICs is expected to be at least 70% with nearly two-thirds of global cancer deaths in LMICs. Cancer mortality is inversely associated with the strength of a country's health system, which is reflected in patient access to screening and treatment as well as the ease with which patient can access medical care.