Interruption of drug supply chains and consequent shortages , as occurred in 2018 when Hurricane Maria struck Puerto Rico which caused the closure of factories that supplied the bulk of small volume IVs in the continental US (( Man , 2018 )
• Damage to communication systems and medical record losses substantially disrupt oncology care . ( Man , 2018 )
• Disruptions to cancer care can lead to a decrease in cancer screening , resulting in more patients presenting with advanced disease and an estimated increase in 10,000 excess deaths from breast or colorectal cancer ( Sharpless , 2020 )
• Climate change will lead to an increasing number of pandemics which are associated with an increase in rate of infection , complications , and deaths in cancer patients Yu , 2020
Underserved populations Impact of climate change on cancer risk is disproportionally worse on underserved populations ( Ashing , 2022 ) ( Tessum , 2021 ) ( Shultz , 2020 )
As oncology health professionals and advocates from 23 different countries , we urge lawmakers and policy makers to take action to reduce carbon emissions and environmental degradation that affect the health and treatment of cancer patients .
Signed , Oncology Health Professionals and Advocates