Typically, manuals of pediatric hematology-oncology are written by specialists from high-income countries, and usually target an audience with a sub-specialist level of training, often assisted by cutting-edge diagnostic and treatment facilities. However, approximately 80% of new cases of cancer in children appear in mid- and low-income countries. Almost invariably, general practitioners or general pediatricians without special training in oncology will look after children with malignancies who enter the health care system in these countries. The diagnostic facilities are usually limited, as are the treatment options. The survival figures in these conditions are somewhere below 20%, while in high-income countries they are in the range of 80% for many childhood cancers. Pediatric Hematology-Oncology in Countries with Limited Resources is the only book of its kind to provide specific guidance applicable to limited resource settings and builds up from the foundation of general practitioner or general pediatrician competence. Written and edited by leaders in the field, this manual educates physicians on the essential components of the discipline, filtered through the experience of specialists from developing countries, with immediate applicability in the specific healthcare environment in these countries.

Typically, manuals of pediatric hematology-oncology are written by specialists from high-income countries, and usually target an audience with a sub-specialist level of training, often assisted by cutting-edge diagnostic and treatment facilities. However, approximately 80% of new cases of cancer in children appear in mid- and low-income countries. Almost invariably, general practitioners or general pediatricians without special training in oncology will look after children with malignancies who enter the health care system in these countries. The diagnostic facilities are usually limited, as are the treatment options. The survival figures in these conditions are somewhere below 20%, while in high-income countries they are in the range of 80% for many childhood cancers. Pediatric Hematology-Oncology in Countries with Limited Resources is the only book of its kind to provide specific guidance applicable to limited resource settings and builds up from the foundation of general practitioner or general pediatrician competence. Written and edited by leaders in the field, this manual educates physicians on the essential components of the discipline, filtered through the experience of specialists from developing countries, with immediate applicability in the specific healthcare environment in these countries.

Although rare, retinoblastoma has been at the fore- fortunate; while in the developed world eye preser- front of cancer research and treatment for the last tion has become a priority, developing countries c- three decades. The two-hit hypothesis of oncogenesis tinue to face delays in diagnosis, poor access to care, proposed by Alfred Knudson provided the conceptual and suboptimal treatment - the problem in the less framework for tumor suppressor gene research and developed world is cure. led to the discovery of the retinoblastoma pathway as In this book, we have invited a team of experts to a key element in cancer development. More recently, address all those important aspects of retinoblastoma the treatment of children with retinoblastoma has also research and therapy - from biology to epidemiology provided a model for modern approach to the can- to treatment. We hope that in subsequent editions we cer patient; state of the art retinoblastoma treatment will be able to continue to provide updates on such can only be conceived in the context of the multidis- exciting subjects.