This is a reflection on poverty, human development and their interfaces with Oncology Nursing Care. Objectives: identify the prevailing types of cancer per region; point the challenges posed to nursing care; discuss the possibilities for Oncology Nursing actions in this context. In light of the demographic, epidemiologic and socio-cultural distribution of cancer in Brazil, a systematic articulation of the Oncology care, in situations of poverty and of low human development, represents a challenge for Nursing, as the necessary actions for prevention, early detection, treatment, and rehabilitation, range from low to high complexity. This conception opens the possibility of meeting this population's diverse demands made to the specialized services in Oncology, which are not restricted only to the antineoplastic treatment access, but include needs inherent to socio-economic-cultural factors.
poverty; human development; oncologic nursing