Yemen and Khat

Yemeni health officials:
"Illegal pesticides used to cultivate khat, vegetables, cause 16,000-17,000 cancer cases a year".

KIDCan

Save Children Suffering From Cancer While Surfing the Web:

What if Kids with Cancer Foundation (KIDCan) earned a penny every time
you searched the Internet? Well, now you can!

GoodSearch.com is a new search engine that donates half its revenue,
about a penny per search, to the charities its users designate.

You use it just as you would any search engine, and it's powered by
Yahoo!, so you get great results.

Just go to http://tinyurl.com/2ykndv and follow the simple
instructions displayed on the screen.

Just 500 of us searching four times a day will raise about $7300 in a
year without anyone spending a dime!

KIDCan Foundation provides free flight support to children with cancer
and one or both their parents to a medical facility for treatment.

Established in 2006, KIDCan Foundation was built through the late
night efforts of its founder Rone de Beauvoir and a few friends and
volunteers and today is considered a lifeline to those affected by
childhood cancer. When people are diagnosed with Cancer, their lives
are permanently changed. But when a child is diagnosed with Cancer,
the burden and stress can be unbearable, and unimaginable.

Financial concerns and treatment options are among their foremost
concerns, in particular patients and their families often struggle
with financing travel from home to a medical facility for treatment.

The KIDCan Foundation is hoping to change all that in a global manner.
Now with the help of private jet owners and private jet facilities,
KIDCan Foundation provides "Free" flight support to children with
cancer, and one or both their parents to a medical facility for
treatment.

KIDCan's goal is to save 100,000 children suffering from cancer around
the world per year.

Please visit the show link at www.bigmediausa.com and click the
"charities" button, listen to other interviews if you like and learn
more about this exciting communications platform to promote your
business, while supporting a charity and helping kids with Cancer.

XL France is supporting KIDCan's expansion into France (PR can be seen
at http://tinyurl.com/3yhqvc)

Be sure to spread the word within your network. I would be extremely
grateful if you could forward this message to a minimum of 5 people in
your network...

Thanks for your time and efforts.

All the best,
Christophe Poizat
http://christophepoizat.com
Country Manager, XL France
http://xlfrance.com
"Life is either a daring adventure or nothing" - Helen Keller

BMJ Poll Regarding Boycott of Israeli Academic Institutions

An email from Dr Samir Amr

"I received the message below from friends in UK concerning a poll conducted by the British Medical Journal concerning boycott of Israeli academic institutes and Israeli academicians by British professional associations such as teachers, newspaper and press professionals etc. This boycott stems from the conviction of these British professionals that Israeli universities and academicians are aiding the Israel army, keeping a blind eye on its inhuman practices in the occupied Palestinian territories and even collaborating with the army on projects which harm Palestinian civilians.

The Israelis and their supporters in USA and the West are responding to this poll in large numbers making the percentage of the people voting no for boycott 90%. We have to reverse that percentage through heavy participation in this poll. It will take from you 30 seconds, unless you want to write some comments (optional). You have not to be a physician to participate. People from all walks of life are voting, why not you?"

Take the Survey

new Web site is launched!

We have officially launched the new design of gulfoncology.org and I could not be more excited by it! As I am sure you will agree the new design is easier to navigate and search with everything you need in easy to find places! Please let us know your thoughts on the new design!

Angie
Nechtan Design
http://www.nechtan.org/

John Hopkins Tops Best Hospital List. Only 18 American Hospitals Made Magazine's Annual List

By Miranda Hitti
WebMD Medical News

AlamiConsulting - Cancer

International: Johns Hopkins Hospital in Baltimore is the nation's top hospital, according to U.S. News & World Report's 2007 list of America's best hospitals.

The magazine considered 5,462 U.S. hospitals for their annual list of top hospitals. Only 18 hospitals made the list.
Here is the magazine's "honor roll" list of America's best hospitals. Hospitals that received the same rank are listed together.

1. Johns Hopkins Hospital in Baltimore

2. Mayo Clinic in Rochester, Minn.

3. UCLA Medical Center in Los Angeles

4. Cleveland Clinic

5. Massachusetts General Hospital in Boston

6. New York-Presbyterian University Hospital of Columbia and Cornell in New York

7. Duke University Medical Center in Durham, N.C., and University of California, San Francisco Medical Center

8. Barnes-Jewish Hospital/Washington University in St. Louis

9. Brigham and Women's Hospital in Boston

10. University of Washington Medical Center in Seattle

11. Hospital of the University of Pennsylvania in Philadelphia

12. University of Pittsburgh Medical Center

13. University of Michigan Hospitals and Health Centers in Ann Arbor, Mich.

14. Stanford Hospital and Clinics in Stanford, Calif., and Yale-New Haven Hospital in New Haven, Conn.

15. Cedars-Sinai Medical Center in Los Angeles, and the University of Chicago Medical Center

How the Best Hospitals Were Chosen

Rankings are based on factors including hospital quality in 16 medical specialties: cancer, digestive disorders, ear/nose/throat, endocrinology, geriatrics, gynecology, heart, kidney disease, neurology/neurosurgery, ophthalmology, orthopedics, psychiatry, rehabilitation, respiratory disorders, rheumatology, and urology.

The magazine also sent surveys to more than 850,000 U.S. doctors, asking them to rank the top five hospitals in their specialty for difficult cases, regardless of location or expense.

The rankings are also based on hospital death rates in Medicare patients with certain conditions, the number of patients and nurses, hospital credentials, and the availability of advanced medical technology.

The rankings don't include military or veterans hospitals because the magazine couldn't get government data needed to rank those hospitals.

Top Hospitals Far Away?

U.S. News & World Report states that "for most people most of the time, the hospital their doctor recommends is fine."

The magazine points out that "going to a hometown hospital means being close to family and friends, whose watchfulness might keep things from going wrong. And patients draw strength from their comforting presence."

However, the magazine notes that top-notch hospitals might be best for difficult or complex conditions.

Talking to your doctor may help you decide whether a highly ranked hospital is the right place to get treatment.

SOURCES: U.S.News & World Report: "America's Best Hospitals 2007." U.S. News & World Report, "What It Takes to Be the Best," July 13, 2007; online edition.

Alarming Rise in Breast Cancer Cases

By Habib Shaikh
Khaleej Times

A GROUP, formed recently, is working to educate the Saudi people about the alarming rise in breast cancer cases in the Kingdom. The organisation, named Zahra, which has official approval from the Ministry of Social Affairs, has some big supporters.
Princess Haifa bint Faisal bin Abdulaziz, heads the group’s board. Before receiving the stamp of approval, the non-profit organisation was named the National Organisation for Breast Cancer Education. The organisation has pledged to draw attention to the disease from qualified specialists and educate patients.
"We will direct the patients to where they should go and what stage they have reached," Princess Haifa said. More than one million cases of breast cancer are diagnosed worldwide each year, with the majority in developed countries.
"King Faisal Hospital alone sees about 600-700 a year, a huge increase from recent years," said Ayman Linjawi, a breast-cancer surgeon at the hospital. Studies show that breast cancer constitutes 18 per cent of all cancers in Saudi Arabia. Only lung cancer is more prevalent in the kingdom.
Training programmes
Princess Haifa outlined a wide range of training and scholarship programmes specifically aimed at eradicating breast cancer. She said the organisation will hold forums inviting renowned researchers to the kingdom, and hopefully come up with real solutions.
In Saudi Arabia, there are several other breast cancer associations, such as the non-profit Saudi Cancer Society in Riyadh, the Al Eiman Association in Jeddah, the Health Promotion Society and the Saudi Cancer Foundation in the Eastern Province.
Of the 550 cases of breast cancer diagnosed every year, Riyadh region accounts for 50 per cent of cases, and the Eastern Province registers 26 per cent. It is more common in the 30 to 50 age-group, and 73 per cent of reported cases are in advance stages.
Women not seeking medical help
"In Saudi Arabia the number of reported cases of breast cancer is alarming but the actual figure is much higher with many women not seeking medical help especially those in rural areas, "said Linjawi.
Women tend to look upon the disease as one that happens to other people, but it attacks all age groups and is a disease that needs to be tackled. Among cancer patients in Saudi Arabia, breast cancer accounts for 18 per cent of all cases with most patients under the age of 50 and all undergo multi-modality treatment that includes surgery, adjuvant chemotherapy, tamoxifen and adjuvant radiotherapy. Between 1975 and 1991 the reported cases of early breast cancer accounted for 36 per cent of women, much lower than the 64 per cent of women who were already suffering from the more advanced stages of cancer. Worse still is that Saudi women account for 20 per cent of the breast cancer cases worldwide.
Early detection helpful
Badea Abdulaziz is just one of those women. The 76-year-old housewife initially refused to believe she had cancer because there was no pain.
"The doctors said the disease was in my breast but I felt nothing until after I was injured and that was when the tumours started to appear," she said. Linjawi said public awareness about breast cancer was crucial and was already helping to reduce mortality rates.
One of the more sinister aspects of this form of cancer is that women can suffer for years without realising they have tumours, simply because there is no pain, and when they do feel pain it is all too often too late. He stressed that the earlier the cancer was detected the better the chances of recovery.

Saudi Cancer Society

Introduction

Cancer is a disease that is shrouded with obscurity and fear. Many people connect the word cancer with loss of hope and the approach of death. Some may even become shattered if they learn that they have the disease. More than 8000 people face this bitter experience annually in the Kingdom of Saudi Arabia and the majority of them do not approach specialized cancer treatment centers in the Kingdom. According to the records of the National Cancer Register, the incidence of cancer in the Kingdom is less than that recorded in European countries. However, indications show that this rate is going to rise considerably for various reasons, such as the increase of the number of senior citizens, in addition to changes in social and environmental conditions and the like. It is expected that the number of cases recorded annually will reach more than 30,000 after 10 to 20 years. This is besides more than 150,000 cured cases that are being following up on a regular basis at specialized centers.

Needless to say, the collaboration of all sectors of society to combat this disease and support its cure has become a necessity. The Saudi Cancer Society is one of these entities devoted to fighting this disease and providing support services to those inflicted with it. The Saudi Cancer Society is a non-profit organization, operating under the auspices of the Ministry of Social Affairs, providing philanthropic services related to cancer patients. It aims to minimizing the spread of the disease and providing help and support to those already inflicted with it. The Society is based in Riyadh and its services reach cancer patients throughout the Kingdom.

The Society's Mission

Minimizing the effects of cancer on the community

Vision

The Society becomes the prime means of support in the fight against cancer and supporting those afflicted with it.

Objectives

Provide support services to cancer patients and their families
Contribute to the support of cancer awareness and prevention
Support and encourage scientific research to identify the causes of cancer in the Kingdom
Support early cancer detection programs
Cooperate with other cancer societies in the Kingdom and help realize their objectives
Support quality assurance programs dealing with cancer diagnosis
Support diagnosis and treatment programs for breast cancer
Support palliative treatment programs for cancer patients
Services Provided by the Society

1 – Social Services

The Society aims to providing a suitable environment for the patient and his next of kin for the purpose of getting treatment without the hassle of finding adequate accommodations or a suitable means of transportation. The Society assists with the transportation of patients to and from airports as well as to the specialized treatment centers. In addition, it helps provide suitable accommodation for the patient and his relatives during treatment, and the also assists with meals and telephone communication services for patients. The social committee also studies the social conditions of patients and provides them with financial support, if possible.

2 – Scientific Research

The Society supports scientific research into the causes of cancer in the community, as well as its diagnosis and cure. It also supports a comprehensive scanning program whi9ch aims to free the society from cancer causing elements. A periodical prize is awarded by the Society to the best specialized research.

3 – Health Awareness Programs

The Society is active in the spread and encouragement of awareness programs about cancer and cancer prevention, in addition to supporting dietary programs that minimize cancer. This is achieved through the publication of books and pamphlets and the utilization of mass media such as the press, radio and television to relate the Society's message to the different sectors of the community. In collaboration with the Ministry of Education, the Society prepares awareness programs for youth on a Kingdom-wide basis.

4 –Information Center

The Information Center contains a database that helps the members of the community find information about cancer. The database contains information on the causes of cancer, prevention methods, and the various methods of treatment available. The Information Center also furnishes information on the locations of specialized centers dedicated to the diagnosis and treatment of cancerous tumors around the Kingdom.

5 – Second Medical Opinion Service

The Society provides a second medical opinion service to cancer patients in order to insure a correct diagnosis, or in order to determine whether the suggested treatment is the best for that particular case from the specialized centers within the Kingdom or from international centers. The Society provides this service by means of modern international communicative medicine.

6 – Technology Transfer

One of the activities of the Saudi Cancer Society is the delivery of the most advanced diagnosis and treatment techniques for cancer in the Kingdom through investigating outstanding cancer centers worldwide and benchmarking what is available in the Kingdom with what is provided outside. The Society sets up priorities for the transfer of these techniques based on a fixed schedule and in collaboration with the concerned government and national entities.

Within the framework of this program, the Society sponsors sending malignant tumor diagnosis and treatment specialists to international centers in order to familiarizing themselves with state of the art techniques and transfer new technologies to the Kingdom. Also, the Society invites prominent specialized scientists to appraise and develop treatment methods in the Kingdom.

7- Cancer Centers Support Program

Due to the increase in the incidence of advanced cancer cases in the Kingdom, the Society places more emphasis on financial support and technical advice for establishment specialized cancer treatment centers in order to increase their capacities.

8 - Program for Fighting the Causes of Cancer

The Society supports programs that fight the causes of cancer, such as smoking, and tobacco and its unhealthy derivatives. Moreover, the Society is launching a huge media campaign to explain the dangers of these substances and their confirmed cancer-causing nature.

9 - Alleviation Treatment Program

The Society has launched alleviation treatment programs throughout the kingdom for the purpose of supporting cancer patients and is collaborating with health sector authorities in providing appropriate services to cancer patients to ease the effects of the disease in its advanced stages.

10 –Psychological Support Program

The Society provides psychological support to patients through specialized psychological support programs conducted by prominent psychologist and religious scholars with long experience in daawa and guidance. In addition to this, the Society also publishes booklets and cassette tapes dealing with these issues.

11 - Assessment of Herbal Treatment Program

The Society undertakes the task of checking herbal medicines used by some cancer patients to insure their freedom from poisonous constituents or health endangering microbes, and to assess their effectiveness in curing the disease

12 - Medical Training Program

The Cancer Society is developing intensive continuing medical training programs for workers in the health sector. These programs aim to spread specialized information regarding the diagnosis and treatment of malignant tumors, thereby assisting with the early discovery of the disease and raising the rate of recovery, by Allah's will.

13- Early Diagnosis

More than two-thirds of cancer patients report to specialized centers after the disease has reached an advance stage. This makes treatment difficult if not impossible. This situation has prompted the Society to establish specialized centers for the early diagnosis and discovery of the disease.

14 – Support of Scientific Cancer Statistics

The National Register for Tumors records all cancerous cases in the Kingdom and carries out statistical comparisons on both local and international levels. The Society's role is confined to the support of internal tumor registers in specialized centers, thereby helping to improve scientific statistics regarding cancer and enhance related scientific research.

location: Riyadh city, Makkah street

website: www.saudicancer.com

e-mail: info@saudicancer.com

phone number: +00966(01) 4829028-4829068

Ebrahim A. Alyahya
Head of Public Relations
Saudi Cancer Society
Phone: (01)4829068-Ext: 111
cell phone: 0503202979
__._,_.___

Urgent Appeal for Women to Seek Testing

Gulfweekly. July 10,2007
The Bahrain Cancer Society (BCS) has issued an urgent call for women to come forward to be screened for breast cancer.

Bahrain's nationwide breast cancer screening campaign launched in March 2006 has fallen drastically short of targets because awareness about the programme and breast cancer in general remains low.

Mammography machines worth thousands of dinars are standing idle in health centres across the country.
We are urging the ladies to come forward, said president of the BCS, Dr Abdulrahman Fakhro.

We have sent out over 52,000 letters inviting women over the age of 40 to have a breast screening but so far only 12,000 have responded.

BCS had expected at least 80 per cent of the women targeted by the campaign to have been screened by now.
The screening initiative spear-headed by the BCS in co-operation with the health and information ministries was the first of its kind in the Gulf.

It was also ahead of countries like the UK and Australia where women are only invited for screening in their 50s.
Mammography machines were installed at Hamad Kanoo, Naim, National Bank of Bahrain, Aali and Mohammed Jassim Kanoo health centres.

The Health Ministry also employed a number of mammogram technicians to operate the machines.

At the launch of the campaign Health Minister Dr Nada Haffadh said: On average we are expecting 20 women every day at each health centre.

However, numbers have been much lower.
Publicity to advertise the campaign included lectures and a poster campaign and each mammography invitation was accompanied by an information brochure.

But Dr Fakhro said it wasn't enough.
He said that he was disappointed with the level of response and believes the Ministry of Information could have done more to promote the campaign.

A spokesperson at the BCS said that cultural reasons may also have played a part in the low number of women who have taken advantage of the screenings: It ¡s against what they have been taught; they are shy and scared to show their breasts.

They don,t know what a mammography is; some women think it will be painful.
We put posters all over the country, on buses, on the streets, everywhere, but we didn't use TV and radio.

The Ministry of Health has renewed the campaign for two more years and we need better advertising, especially ads on the TV and radio.

In Bahrain 80 cases of breast cancer are detected every year.
Mammography helps to detect breast cancer early on.
At the launch of the campaign, Dr Haffadh said: Through early detection the percentage of recovery reaches 95 per cent, and this helps to reduce the number of deaths from breast cancer at a rate of 30 per cent.

By attending regular mammogram invitations we can detect breast cancer at a rate of 95 per cent.
I call on all women who have reached 40 or above to actively take part and benefit from the service for a better life.
One in eight people would develop breast cancer during their lifetime.
A women¡¯s chances of breast cancer increases with age.