Early Cancer Detection Grows Survival Rate

Friends of Cancer Patients (FOCP) held a Cancer Awareness Educational Seminar entitled “The Latest in Breast Cancer” at the headquarters of Sharjah Supreme Council for Family Affairs.

The seminar, which presented the latest research and studies on cancer, particularly breast cancer, was chaired by Dr Pamela Munster, MD, Associate Professor of Hematology/ Oncology, Director of the Early Phase Clinical Trials Program, and Associate Director of Investigational Therapeutics at the University of California, San Francisco. Dr Munster is also former Associate Professor of the Division of Breast Oncology and Experimental Therapeutics Program at the Moffitt Cancer Center at the University of South Florida.

Recent studies indicate that over seven million people die from cancer every year, and according to the World Health Organization’s International Agency for Research on Cancer, cancer will overtake heart disease as the world’s top killer by 2010. The world’s poorest countries will suffer from increasing rates of cancer caused by cigarette smoking, contaminated food and saturated fat in food.

“Almost 70 percent of cancer cases in western countries are detected in the early stages, while the rate decreases to around 30 percent in Arab countries,” said Munster. “The incidence of breast cancer in Arab countries has increased over the last 40 years from 20 cases per 100,000 women to 46 per 100,000, compared to between 70 and 90 cases in Europe and the USA. The increasing number of breast and colon cancer cases is very apparent. Colon cancer is the most common cancer among men and the second most common cancer after breast cancer among women,” she added.

H.E Ameera Bin Karam, President of FOCP’s Board of Trustees, said: “It is important to promote good diet among people, as the risk of cancer may be reduced by fresh fruit and vegetable consumption. Awareness of the importance of early detection must be further raised as early detection increases the survival rate to around 95 percent. Awareness campaigns should be launched throughout all Arab countries to spread awareness of the importance of early detection of cancer by regular tests and mammography for women aged 40 or over.”

Dr Munster’s research interests include the development of therapies for breast cancer and treatment strategies. She is an expert in histone deacetylase (HDAC) inhibitors and is involved in investigating the benefit of HDAC inhibitors in combination with topo I and topo II inhibitors. Dr Munster specializes in the preservation of ovarian function and fertility in women undergoing treatments for breast cancer, and has an additional interest in the study and treatment of pregnancy-related breast cancer. She is published extensively and is a member of the American Association for Cancer Research, the American Society of Clinical Oncology, and the American Society for Reproductive Medicine.

Friends of Cancer Patients is a charity organization established under the umbrella of the Supreme Council for Family Affairs in 2000, under the royal patronage of Her Highness Sheikha Jawaher Bint Mohammed Al Qassimi, Wife of the Ruler of Sharjah, Chairperson of the Supreme Council for Family Affairs, and Honorary President of FOCP. The society’s principal aims are spreading awareness about cancer detection, treatment and prevention, and providing help and support for cancer patients.

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