JEDDAH, 17 February 2007 — Recent advances in cancer research, diagnosis and treatment will be the focus of a major international symposium that opens at InterContinental Hotel here on Feb. 26, according to Dr. Ezzeldin M. Ibrahim, chief medical officer at King Faisal Specialist Hospital & Research Center in Jeddah.
Princess Aliaa bint Abdullah will inaugurate the symposium titled “Oncology Update 2007,” which will be attended by 800 oncologists, doctors and nurses from within the Kingdom and abroad. “We were very selective in inviting overseas experts,” said Ibrahim.
“On the opening day, three important lectures on the legitimacy of cancer treatment by Sheikh Tawfiq Al-Sayegh; nutrition and cancer by Dr. Saddah Eshki; and the man and breast cancer by Dr. Samiah Al-Amoudi will be held and the public can attend them free of charge,” he said.
The symposium will deal with topics such as alternative medicine for cancer treatment, integrated medicine, pain management, stem cell research, targeted therapy, supportive care, radiation oncology and pediatric and adult BMT and hematology. “There will be a special program on oncology nursing,” Ibrahim said.
He highlighted the tremendous progress in cancer research and treatment. “The word cancer should not be equated with death as it is a curable disease,” he told Arab News. “The public meeting on the first day reflects our service to society as we want to inform them what to do to prevent the disease,” he said. He urged people to attend risk assessment clinic to get best advice and educational material.
Ibrahim, who is an internationally known oncologist with more than 200 published works to his credit, said ageing, urbanization and modern lifestyle as well as environmental pollution and smoking are some of the major factors that cause cancer. Although cancer cases are on the rise, cancer mortality is on the decline, he said citing the latest research.
“This is because of better understanding and better modalities of treatment. Medical progress led to the invention of most effective drugs that target certain receptors and genes,” he said.
He said King Faisal Hospital offers a comprehensive treatment program with a multi disciplinary approach. It is the only hospital in the Western region with the bone marrow transplant facility.
Of the more than 7,000 patients diagnosed in the Kingdom annually, about 5,000 are Saudis, he said, adding: “We believe the number is probably higher as we don’t have complete statistics.”
He said several modern methods have been introduced for early detection of cancer, especially breast cancer. This includes digital mammography, MRI and other advanced investigations. He said breast cancer is the most common cancer among Saudi women.
Asked why cancer cases were reaching hospitals at advanced stages, he said it was mainly because lack of awareness as well as social and cultural reasons. “The trend has changed now as we receive more breast cancer patients in early stages than what it used to be 10 years ago.”
