Nursing’s Potential to Address the Growing Cancer Burden in Low- and Middle-Income Countries

Cancer has become a major noncommunicable disease (NCD) in lowand middle-income countries (LMICs) where an inadequately prepared and insufficient nursing workforce exists. Successful cancer care requires a teamapproach, andknowledgeable oncology nurses play a crucial role in a functioning team. The goals of reducing cancer incidence, improving survival, and providing better palliative care cannot bemetwithout the efforts of these nurses. Oncology nurses who work in the community and at the bedside can deliver needed patient, family, and community education; implement early detection programs; administer treatments; identify complications; provide palliative care; and lead and collaborate on clinical research.Well-preparedoncologynurseshavedemonstrated a wide-ranging impact across the spectrum of cancer care in high-income countries (HICs). To benefit from this expertise, LMICs need workforce capacity–building efforts to educate nurses in cancer care initiatives, expand the scope of nursing practice, and increase task sharing as demonstrated in HIV/AIDS care in LMICs; these efforts require time, money, and political commitment.