Antimicrobial resistance and its impact on cancer care

Antimicrobial resistance (AMR), including antibiotic resistance, adversely affects cancer treatment and could undermine key advances being made in cancer care. The growing cancer burden, in combination with the increasing threat of AMR, is a global public health issue that needs to be addressed urgently. It affects everyone, everywhere.

Why is AMR a major issue for cancer treatment and care and what is UICC doing to increase knowledge and raise awareness of the topic within the cancer community?

How is AMR linked to cancer?

People with cancer are more susceptible to infections due to the lowering of immune defences. As many as 1 in 5 cancer patients undergoing treatment are hospitalised due to infection, and antibiotics are the main line of defence.