Emirates Oncology Conference opens in Abu Dhabi

An invited audience of more than 700 surgeons, physicians, nurses, and other healthcare professionals from the UAE, GCC, and the Middle East were in attendance, with sessions over the three days of the conference spanning breast cancer; palliative care; gastrointestinal oncology; gynecological oncology, urology; hematology; pulmonary oncology and paediatric cancer treatment. Today's programme also includes the Terry Fox Fund / UAEU Cancer Research Symposium.

World-renowned researchers and practitioners in the UAE capital for the congress include Professor J. Cameron for Pancreatic Cancer from the Johns Hopkins University School of Medicine, Baltimore, USA; Professor T. Sano for Gastric Cancer from the Cancer Institute Hospital, Tokyo, Japan; and Professor. D. Slamon for Breast Cancer from UCLA's Jonsson Comprehensive Cancer Center in Los Angeles, USA. Local specialists sharing their latest insights into research and treatment in the UAE include Dr. M. Jaloudi from Tawam Hospital, Al Ain; Dr. S. Aswad from Ain Al-Khaleej Hospital, Al-Ain; and Dr. M. Chaudhry from the Tawam Molecular Imaging Center, Al Ain.

Mr. Gregory Schaffer, CEO, Tawam Hospital said, "Tawam Hospital has built its reputation as a leader in cancer care over more than 30 years and we are now known as the national centre for oncology and a regional referral centre for patients seeking treatment. As part of our commitment to improving care and saving lives here in the UAE and the wider region, today and for the next three days, we are bringing together global experts in their respective oncological treatment fields. With this event and others like it, we can help to advance cancer treatment and care given - from screening and diagnosis right through to follow-up."

Dr. Mohammed Jaloudi, Chair, Emirates Oncology added, "Advances are being made in oncology at a rate that was unimaginable just a few decades ago. It is therefore vital that we bring that knowledge to our region, and most importantly, to our patients and their families."

"There is also significant research work underway here in the UAE - including Tawam Hospital - and across the Middle East. The findings from this work give us invaluable insights into how we can help encourage patients to participate in screening programmes, recognise their symptoms and seek advice at the earliest possible stages of their illnesses. These factors are often social and cultural as much if not more than medical; therefore local data and knowledge-sharing are vital tools in the fight against cancer in the region," he concluded.

The three day conference opened for registration today at 7am with the first session starting at 8am. The closing session will take place on Saturday 10 November, at 4.45pm.