Austin Samaritans' Executive Director, John Doty MD, provides an overview of how we came to focus on a particular condition in a particular country, and outlines our strategy to provide significant return on donated funds by

• Collaborating with other like-minded non-profits to achieve greater returns
• Targeting an area where our efforts will be felt strongly
• Establishing a strategy for ongoing care and long-term effects

Why Fight Cancer?

When we consider health care in developing countries we most often think of infectious diseases as the primary cause of disease and death. Though infectious diseases remain a significant problem in many developing countries, cancer and heart disease actually kill many more people. As noted by Otis W. Brawley, M.D., Chief Medical Officer of the American Cancer Society, “Cancer causes more death than AIDS, tuberculosis and malaria combined.”

Approximately five million people die worldwide each year from tuberculosis, malaria and AIDS, but cancer causes nearly eight million deaths worldwide each year. “Of these deaths more than 72% are now occurring in low- and middle-income countries,” according to Dr. Margaret Chan, Director General of the World Health Organization.

The burden of infectious diseases is decreasing in developing countries as clean water, vaccinations, and limited basic health care become more readily available. On the other hand, the burden of cancer is dramatically increasing. The World Cancer Report of 2008 stated that “The global burden of cancer has more than doubled during the past 30 years. By 2030, it could be expected that there could be 17 million cancer deaths annually.” Clearly cancer is a major problem worldwide.

Why Nicaragua?

Women in Nicaragua are more likely to die of cancer than women in the United States. In fact, cervical cancer is the primary cause of death for Nicaraguan women between the age of 30 and 60 due to a lack of routine gynecologic care and screening. The incidence of cervical cancer is four times higher in Nicaragua compared to the incidence in the States and the death rate is ten times greater. Over half of the women diagnosed with cervical cancer in Nicaragua are under 50 years of age.

Many women with cancer in Nicaragua die without access to even the most basic health care. In the United States over 80 % of women with either breast or cervical cancer can expect to survive their illness. Half of all known cases of breast and cervical cancer result in death in Nicaragua. How many die from cancer without diagnosis or care is unknown.

Collaborating for Greatest Impact

Austin Samaritans has joined with Nicaraguan non-profits, Fundación El Samaritano and Fundación Ortiz Gurdian, to combat these deadly diseases. We are joined by other non-profits from the United States and Spain in a cooperative association to address cancer in Nicaragua, particularly cervical and breast cancer. Through the association, women are receiving care including screening, diagnosis, surgery and chemotherapy at Fundación El Samaritano clinic and surgery center.

In October, 2009, a conference for 14 Nicaraguan doctors and nurses was sponsored by Austin Samaritans at Fundación El Samaritano. The conference consisted of two days of lectures and two days of practical training including screening of women, treatment of pre-malignant disease, and follow up of patients previously treated for pre-malignant disease or cervical cancer. Women were screened from two projects Austin Samaritans supports including Casa Esperanza, a program to enable women to escape the sex trade, and Casa Base de Salud, the medical-dental clinic we support in La Chureca, Managua’s municipal dump. These women have a heavy burden of gynecologic disease and are at greatest risk of cervical cancer due to their personal histories.

Treatment Centers for Long Term Effects

Plans include development of cancer treatment centers in Managua and Matagalpa. Alliances with short term medical brigades will reach into remote communities to provide screening of women who have no other access to medical care. Well trained Nicaraguan doctors and nurses will be able to screen for and treat many patients with pre-malignant disease in their own communities. For others, the necessary expertise and additional care will available at El Samaritano or in the centers that are planned to open in 2010.

The alliance is able to screen and treat pre-malignant disease of the cervical for only $10.00 per woman. Through our alliance we can treat women with six weeks of chemotherapy with radiotherapy for $500.00 per woman dramatically increasing her chance of survival. Fundación Ortiz Gurdian graciously funds all expenses for diagnosis, surgery, chemotherapy, hormone therapy and follow-up for women diagnosed with breast cancer. Women admitted to the program also receive spiritual support, psycho-social counseling and practical assistance.

Your Donation Can Save Lives

In the United States, cervical cancer is a rare disease in women who undergo regular screening. Death due to cervical cancer is even rarer. Though breast cancer is much more common in the United States, it is typically treated with success. Through the alliance of non-profits from Nicaragua, Spain and the United States connecting in common purpose, disease and death due to breast and cervical cancer can be dramatically reduced in Nicaragua.

You can participate in this effort by your generous donation to Austin Samaritans designated for “Cancer Care.”