Conference to discuss cancer prevalence in developing countries at SIUT

Karachi: On March 7, a three-day high profile conference to address the incidence and causes of cancer leading to death, particularly in developing countries, opened at the SIUT (Sindh Institute of Urology and Transplantation). The conference was jointly organized by the prestigious American Society of Clinical Oncology (ASCO) and the SIUT. Various leading cancer specialists from Europe and North America took part in the conference.

According to statistics released by the American Society of Clinical Oncology, approximately 148000 Pakistanis are diagnosed with cancer per annum with over 100000 cancer caused deaths.

The management and treatment of hematological malignancies, breast and lung cancers, and colon cancers were some of the important topics which were earmarked for discussion during the three-day proceedings.

The American Society of Clinical Oncology which was established in 1954, with a worldwide membership of 45000 practicing oncologists including Pakistan, has decided to take the war against cancer globally. This conference was a part of the global war. Workshops on conducting research, propagating education, and promoting high-quality patient care were also part of the conference.

Highlighting the ever growing rate burden of cancer globally, experts have underlined the need to reduce the burden of the ailment by implementing known cancer preventing strategies. Smoking and use of tobacco have been described as the most important contributing factor. They also underlined the adoption of a healthy lifestyle, healthy diet, and cancer screening as necessary measures that can be taken for preventing cancer. The oncologist members of the society stressed on the importance of premium patient care and also pointed out the dearth of state of the art cancer treating hospitals in the public sector in Pakistan.