Easa Saleh Al Gurg Group’s Post

Honoring World Cancer Day: Uniting to Combat Cancer in Africa 🌍🎗️ Today, on World Cancer Day🎗️, we stand in solidarity with cancer fighters 💪🏽, survivors, and medical professionals dedicated to combating this disease worldwide. While cancer is a global challenge, its impact on Africa 🌍 presents unique hurdles and calls for concerted efforts. Let's shed light on the key facts and foster hope through collective action. 🔍 Key Facts: - Africa faces a significant burden, with over 1 million new cancer cases and nearly 700,000 deaths annually. - Limited access to early diagnosis, treatment facilities, and trained healthcare professionals exacerbates the situation. - Breast, cervical, and prostate cancers are among the most prevalent, stressing the need for awareness and preventive measures. 🌱 Yet, There's Hope & Progress: - Initiatives like the African Cancer Coalition, African Cancer Support Group or African Cancer Organisation are working tirelessly to adapt guidelines and enhance treatment accessibility. - Grassroots awareness campaigns are demystifying the disease, encouraging early detection and breaking down stigma barriers. 🤝 What We Can Do: 🚀 Advocate and Educate: Raise awareness about prevention, early detection, and the importance of regular screenings. 🚀 Support Local Initiatives: Collaborate with organizations working on the ground to provide care, education, and support to those affected. 🚀 Foster Research & Investment: Encourage investments in healthcare infrastructure and research to develop solutions tailored for Africa. As we observe World Cancer Day, let's remember that every effort counts 💪🏽. Whether it's through raising awareness, supporting a local cancer charity, or advocating for better healthcare policies, our collective actions can make a difference. Kenza Abbad Andaloussi Marie-Laure Moukoko Mircea Cubillos Shailesh KAPADIA, CCPE® Simon Gomis Bertrand Thiery Stephanie LAPIERE Stéphane Carré Awa Babington-Ashaye, Ph.D Victor Benjamin Serge Ehouman Laurent Amiel Chiagoziem Charles-Ukeagu Mahmoud Khalifa

Cancer Survivorship in Ghana: A Review of Challenges and Opportunities Abstract: This article explores the landscape of cancer survivorship in Ghana, highlighting the unique challenges faced by survivors in the country. It discusses the impact of cancer on individuals, families, and communities in Ghana, as well as the existing support systems and opportunities for improving survivorship outcomes. The article also provides recommendations for policymakers and healthcare professionals to enhance the quality of life for cancer survivors in Ghana. Keywords: Cancer survivorship, Ghana, challenges, opportunities, support systems Introduction: Cancer continues to be a significant public health concern in Ghana, with an increasing number of individuals being diagnosed with the disease each year. While efforts have been made to improve cancer prevention and treatment in the country, there is a growing need to focus on the long-term well-being of cancer survivors. Cancer survivorship refers to the period following a cancer diagnosis, which presents its own set of physical, emotional, and social challenges. Challenges Faced by Cancer Survivors in Ghana: 1. Limited access to specialized cancer care: Ghana faces a shortage of oncologists and cancer treatment facilities, leading to delays in diagnosis and inadequate treatment for many cancer patients. 2. Financial burden: The cost of cancer treatment in Ghana is high, placing a significant financial strain on survivors and their families. This often leads to financial hardship and limited access to essential care. 3. Stigma and discrimination: Cancer survivors in Ghana often face stigma and discrimination due to misconceptions about the disease. This can impact their mental health and quality of life. Opportunities for Improving Cancer Survivorship in Ghana: 1. Strengthening survivorship programs:There is a need to develop comprehensive survivorship programs that address the physical, emotional, and social needs of cancer survivors. 2. Enhancing healthcare infrastructure: Improving the availability and accessibility of specialized cancer care facilities and trained healthcare professionals is crucial. 3. Financial support mechanisms:Implementing policies that reduce the financial burden on cancer survivors and their families can improve access to necessary treatments and support services. 4. Public awareness campaigns: Increasing awareness about cancer and reducing stigma through education and advocacy can help improve the quality of life for survivors. Conclusion: Addressing the challenges faced by cancer survivors in Ghana requires a multifaceted approach involving policymakers, healthcare professionals, and the community. By strengthening support systems and implementing targeted interventions, it is possible to enhance the quality of life for cancer survivors and improve survivorship outcomes in Ghana.

Kudos to Qatar for establishing a Qatar Cancer Plan! The Qatar Cancer Plan was established in June 2023. Qatar continues to look for ways to improve cancer care and provide the best care for the current and upcoming patients, patient's families, and society. The plan focuses on what patients prefer, Qatar. has provided home care service for patients who do not want to stay in the hospital for long periods of time to receive treatment, Qatar has provided different services of cancer care to according to the preference of the patient. The plan not only focuses on treating the cancer cells but also focuses on the physiological and social aspects that the patients' are experiencing. Other than that, it consists of palliative care, awareness, avoidance, prompt detection, accurate diagnosis, and comprehensive treatment will all be included in the Qatar Cancer Plan.

Here are the top 5 reasons why Gold Anchor Pediatric Cancer Foundation (https://lnkd.in/drRuwFri) provides FREELY ACCESSIBLE cancer information in Lesotho, especially considering the economic challenges faced by many households: 1. Equitable Access to Knowledge: Cancer information is essential for prevention, early detection, and treatment. By making it freely available, we ensure that everyone—regardless of their financial situation—can access accurate information. 2. Empowering Communities: Knowledge is power. When individuals understand cancer risks, symptoms, and available resources, they can make informed decisions about their health. Free information empowers communities to take charge of their well-being. 3. Early Detection Saves Lives: Delayed diagnosis often leads to advanced-stage cancers. Free information encourages people to seek medical help promptly, increasing the chances of early detection and successful treatment. 4. Reducing Stigma: Lack of awareness perpetuates stigma around cancer. Free information helps dispel myths, encourages open conversations, and reduces fear. When people understand that cancer is a disease like any other, they are more likely to seek help. 5. Supporting Vulnerable Populations: Poverty disproportionately affects vulnerable populations. By providing free cancer information, we bridge the gap and ensure that even those struggling financially can access life-saving knowledge. Let us work together to break down barriers, promote awareness, and create a healthier Lesotho. 🎗️. References: (1) Cancer Lesotho 2020 country profile - World Health Organization (WHO). https://lnkd.in/dxCvV5yK. (2) How landlocked Lesotho's 1st and only oncology clinic addresses cancer .... https://lnkd.in/dfUAUQ5z. (3) PM LAUNCHES CANCER SCREENING CAMPAIGN - Government Of Lesotho. https://lnkd.in/dnfn8enD. (4) Cancer Care Milestone Reached in Lesotho - 3blmedia.com. https://lnkd.in/dJzge3zF.

Here are the top 5 reasons why Gold Anchor Pediatric Cancer Foundation (https://lnkd.in/drRuwFri) provides FREELY ACCESSIBLE cancer information in Lesotho, especially considering the economic challenges faced by many households: 1. Equitable Access to Knowledge: Cancer information is essential for prevention, early detection, and treatment. By making it freely available, we ensure that everyone—regardless of their financial situation—can access accurate information. 2. Empowering Communities: Knowledge is power. When individuals understand cancer risks, symptoms, and available resources, they can make informed decisions about their health. Free information empowers communities to take charge of their well-being. 3. Early Detection Saves Lives: Delayed diagnosis often leads to advanced-stage cancers. Free information encourages people to seek medical help promptly, increasing the chances of early detection and successful treatment. 4. Reducing Stigma: Lack of awareness perpetuates stigma around cancer. Free information helps dispel myths, encourages open conversations, and reduces fear. When people understand that cancer is a disease like any other, they are more likely to seek help. 5. Supporting Vulnerable Populations: Poverty disproportionately affects vulnerable populations. By providing free cancer information, we bridge the gap and ensure that even those struggling financially can access life-saving knowledge. Let us work together to break down barriers, promote awareness, and create a healthier Lesotho. 🎗️. References: (1) Cancer Lesotho 2020 country profile - World Health Organization (WHO). https://lnkd.in/dxCvV5yK. (2) How landlocked Lesotho's 1st and only oncology clinic addresses cancer .... https://lnkd.in/dfUAUQ5z. (3) PM LAUNCHES CANCER SCREENING CAMPAIGN - Government Of Lesotho. https://lnkd.in/dnfn8enD. (4) Cancer Care Milestone Reached in Lesotho - 3blmedia.com. https://lnkd.in/dJzge3zF.

Delighted to share that our study on the origins of children's Burkitt Lymphoma (https://lnkd.in/d8jArapK) is just published in the journal PNAS, one of the world's most-cited and comprehensive multidisciplinary journals. Our results may help to explain why endemic Burkitt Lymphoma, a fast-growing cancer of the lymphatic system with a high mortality rate, develops much more commonly in children in some regions in Africa than anywhere else in the world. This collaborative study gain an important insight into how exposure to known cancer risk factors could drive development of endemic Burkitt lymphoma. Epstein-Barr virus (EBV), a common virus that more than 90% of the adult human population worldwide has been infected with at some point in their lives, is widely known to be associated with this type of cancer. However, as infection with EBV is common but development of endemic Burkitt lymphoma is relatively rare and geographically unequal, other risk factors that are prevalent in the affected regions are also expected to play a role. We tested how exposure to EBV and exposure to mycotoxins, toxins produced by fungi commonly found in food in these regions, influenced how cells reacted and the proteins and other biomolecules that they produced. Specifically, we found that exposure of B cells to aflatoxin B1 a common mycotoxin in Africa, causes an overexpression of specific molecules with a role in immunity, highlighting a possible cooperation of these exposures in the first stages of development of Burkitt lymphoma. These findings point to a new mechanism that may operate in the early stages of the development of endemic Burkitt Lymphoma and identify novel pathways that can be targeted in drug development against this disease, that represents almost 50% of paediatric cancers in Africa and the leading cause of cancer related death in many African countries. Grateful to Rita Khoueiry, Henri Gruffat, Francois-Loic Cosset, Sarah De Saeger, Marthe De Boevre, Lucia Mundo, Francesca Manara and other colleagues and all members of Epigenetics and Mechanisms Branch (EGM) at IARC - International Agency for Research on Cancer / World Health Organization for this enriching collaboration. I wish to pay special tribute to Rosita Accardi-Gheit who initiated the study and made a critical contribution at the early stage of the project. We acknowledge the IARC-Children with Cancer UK postdoctoral fellowship to Grace Odongo as well as the grants from FWO Belgium, INSERM (France), INCA France (PEDIAC project) and the European Union’s Horizon 2020. #childhoodcancer #Burkittlymphoma #Aflatoxin #Epstein-Barrvirus #immunity #Africa

FROM ECO PRESIDENT: APPROACHING RAPIDLY It's hard to believe but the calendar never lies: We're now less than four months from the European Cancer Summit, our unique flagship event. European Cancer Organisation I have been attending these gatherings for the past seven years and each one is special. Each one is different. Each one provides fresh perspectives and fosters new relationships that have a profound impact on my work and my overall approach to cancer care throughout the year. I don't know of any other meeting which is so highly focused on cancer policy. This year's programme, entitled ‘United Against Cancer: Forging New Frontiers’, stresses the importance of collaboration to take European cancer care to the next level. The tagline is especially apt as we now welcome a newly-elected European Parliament and watch closely as it charts its course for the next five years. One thing I have discovered over the years is that you must always be open to learn, adapt, and introduce new initiatives to get your mission accomplished. And no mission can be accomplished if you can't bring all the stakeholders together at the same table. We recognise the importance of Europe's Beating Cancer Plan, but it needs to be continued. And even if the political landscape is shifting, and a new EU Health Commissioner will soon be appointed, and other changes may be in store, we still have a mission to pursue, and emphasising unity is vitally important. This year's Summit will once again feature the leading voices in cancer policy, but it will also introduce plenty of up-and-coming personalities within our community – new faces, new stakeholders, new politicians who are eager to embrace parts of our policy mission. I hope you will meet as many of these colleagues as possible during the coffee breaks and networking drinks. The Summit this year will also include a 'legacy session': taking a moment to reflect on the passing of some of our more prominent members; and there will be a 'taking stock session' on the Beating Cancer Plan: where we've been, what was achieved, and what's next. This will be led by our dear friend and outgoing EU Health Commissioner Stella Kyriakides, and it should be especially informative. When the curtain comes down on the Summit, it will quickly rise again for an exciting Showcase Event the following day, 22 November, at the same venue. It will mark the end of smartCARE (creating a digital app prototype to improve the quality of life for cancer survivors) and PROTECT-EUROPE (introducing more effective approaches to expand HPV vaccination across Europe). There are so many lessons to be learned from each project and we're eager to share them. With my very best wishes for a safe, restful, and enjoyable summer, Prof. Csaba Dégi Full text here: https://lnkd.in/d8YeeqQH

The Canadian Cancer Survivor Network Holds Open House for World Cancer Day For the first time since COVID-19, CCSN held its traditional in person Open House on February 2 to mark World Cancer Day. Jackie Manthorne, CCSN President & CEO, welcomed MPP Chandra Pasma, member of the Provincial Parliament for Ottawa West-Nepean, and Laine Johnson, College Ward City Councillor, and invited each of them to speak about the theme of World Cancer Day this year – Close the Care Gap! CCSN was also pleased to welcome about thirty cancer patients, caregivers, survivors, and representatives of cancer organizations, including Al Carl, Chair of Prostate Cancer Support Ottawa; Tricia Ross from the Ottawa Regional Cancer Foundation; Jaime Corinaldi of Roche; Alicia Vianga, founder of After Breast Cancer; and representing CCSN's Board of Directors, Alex Chevrette, Assistant Treasurer, and Lauren Koshurba, Secretary. Manthorne then spoke about World Cancer Day, reminding everyone that every year, globally, nearly 20 million people are diagnosed with cancer, and 10 million die from it. In Canada, an estimated 230,000 are diagnosed with cancer every year, and 85,000 die from it. Closing the Care Gap means equitable healthcare and cancer care for those living in low- and lower-middle income countries. Closing the Care Gap means ensuring equitable cancer care for Canadians living in rural areas, indigenous peoples, immigrants, refugees, others whose first language is neither English nor French, LGBTQ2S+ citizens, those who are disabled, visible minorities, and those who live far from cancer screening and treatment centres who must travel for care. Three days after CCSN’s last All-party Cancer Caucus in the Ontario Legislature, Health Minister Sylvia Jones announced that starting in fall 2024, breast screening would start at 40 instead of 50. But closing the care gap in Canada means making all cancer screening programs open to people of any age – no aging in for young people, no aging out for older people. Those of any age should be able to self-refer for screening. Closing the care gap means ensuring that the 20 per cent of Canadians who do not have a family doctor should be able to access primary care, the gatekeeper for care when you need it! And closing the care gap means not closing screening and postponing or cancelling appointments, tests, and treatments when – not if, but when – another pandemic or future natural disasters occur. CCSN commissioned five Leger surveys on COVID-19 disruption of cancer care in Canada as part of CCSN’s Cancer Can’t Wait campaign. And as everyone know, cancer didn’t wait. Manthorne urged everyone to take copies of the three Cancer Can’t Wait reports, available in English and French, adding that the title of the first report says it all: THROWN UNDER THE BUS. She then thanked MPP Pasma and City Councillor Johnson for speaking, and Bridgehead for providing coffee and tea and invited everyone to stay for sandwiches and sweets.

The Cancer Society of New Zealand is deeply disappointed by the lack of additional funding for cancer medicines in today’s Budget 2024 announcement and is concerned by a number of important items that are notably absent. “Our hearts go out to those living with cancer and their whānau who had their hopes raised by National’s election promise last August to fund 13 cancer drugs, only to see them crushed today,” says Cancer Society Chief Executive Dr Rachael Hart. While we welcome the signalled investments in workforce, we have acute shortages now so we will be looking for more detail on how the Government plans to attract cancer specialists from overseas and improve conditions to keep the ones we already have here.   It's pleasing to see the investment in breast cancer screening, but we stress that the phased approach needs to focus on priority populations. We are also concerned there is no detail in the Budget documents of continued funding for cervical screening for those groups who are under-screened. And with Budget 2024 falling on the eve of World Smokefree Day we had hoped to see an announcement about this Government’s investment towards a Smokefree Aotearoa. “When this Government repealed the Smokefree legislation it promised more investment in helping people quit,” says Dr Hart. “However, we see no evidence of that commitment in the current budget. Is this another promise that has been forgotten?” Read Cancer Society's response to today's Budget announcements in full on our website at the link below.

The Cancer Society of New Zealand is deeply disappointed by the lack of additional funding for cancer medicines in yesterday’s Budget 2024 announcement and is concerned by a number of important items that are notably absent. “Our hearts go out to those living with cancer and their whānau who had their hopes raised by National’s election promise last August to fund 13 cancer drugs, only to see them crushed today,” says Cancer Society Chief Executive Dr Rachael Hart. While we welcome the signalled investments in workforce, we have acute shortages now so we will be looking for more detail on how the Government plans to attract cancer specialists from overseas and improve conditions to keep the ones we already have here. It's pleasing to see the investment in breast cancer screening, but we stress that the phased approach needs to focus on priority populations. We are also concerned there is no detail in the Budget documents of continued funding for cervical screening for those groups who are under-screened. And with Budget 2024 falling on the eve of World Smokefree Day we had hoped to see an announcement about this Government’s investment towards a Smokefree Aotearoa. “When this Government repealed the Smokefree legislation it promised more investment in helping people quit,” says Dr Hart. “However, we see no evidence of that commitment in the current budget. Is this another promise that has been forgotten?” Read Cancer Society's response to today's Budget announcements in full on our website at the link below.