ASCO Highlights Impact of Natural Disasters on Cancer Care
At the American Society of Clinical Oncology (ASCO) 2026 session, experts discussed the compounded challenges faced by cancer care due to natural disasters, wars, and policy decisions. Dr. Manali Patel from Stanford University highlighted the lack of data connecting climate-related natural disasters to cancer outcomes, despite evidence of increased mortality rates among cancer patients exposed to such events. The session emphasized the need for proactive emergency planning in hospitals, drawing lessons from past experiences like the Texas Medical Center's response to Tropical Storm Allison. The discussion also covered the impact of geopolitical conflicts on cancer care access, particularly in war-torn regions, and the challenges faced by undocumented immigrants in the U.S. in accessing cancer treatment. 
