Qatar Cancer Society (QCS) marks World Cancer Day, which aims to raise awareness of cancer and to encourage its prevention, detection and treatment. Spearheaded by the Union for International Cancer Control (UICC), which QCS is one of its members, the day aims to save millions of preventable deaths each year by raising awareness and improving education about the disease alongside calling on governments and individuals across the world to take action. World Cancer Day is an international day marked on February 4 annually.

2019 will be the first year of the new three-year campaign, ‘I Am and I Will’. The new theme is an empowering call for personal commitment and represents the power of our actions taken now to reduce the growing impact of cancer

His excellency Sheikh. Dr Khalid Bin Jabor Al Thani, chairman of QCS stressed the importance of continuing efforts to raise awareness about cancer and ways to prevent it and to promote early detection as it is the cornerstone of prevention and treatment.

His excellency noted that QCS will mark World Cancer Day with a special event under the theme ‘I Am and I Will’, which targets all segments of the society and educate them about cancer and ways to prevent it in a simplified recreational way, In addition to emphasizing the importance of early detection of the disease.

According to the most recent reports published by Qatar National Cancer Registry (QNCR, 2015), breast, colorectal, and prostate cancers lie on top of the most common newly diagnosed cancers in Qatar. In terms of the most common newly diagnosed cancers among men in Qatar, QNCR (2015) has reported that prostate cancer, colorectal cancer, and leukemia are the top three cancers. On the other hand, the most common newly diagnosed cancers among women in Qatar includes breast, thyroid, and colorectal cancers. In 2018, more than 18 million new cases of cancer worldwide of which nearly 5 million cases of breast, cervical, colorectal, and oral cancers could have been detected sooner and treated more effectively, improving patient survival rates and quality of life.

The Union for International Cancer Control (UICC), in line with guidelines set out by the World Health Organization, recommends that all governments implement measures to reduce stigma and improve public awareness of the signs and symptoms of cancer, establish cost-effective population-based screenings and early detection programmes, strengthen national health systems’ referral mechanisms for suspected cancers to facilities providing diagnostic and treatment services, and increase investment in diagnostic capacities.

Qatar Cancer Society (QCS) has launched a month long campaign titled ‘Darbek Khadar 2’ to raise awareness about cervical cancer. Through the campaign, women can do Pap Smear test free in Al Emadi Hospital after getting a coupon from QCS. QCS will organize a closing ceremony of the campaign on January 30 at its headquarters. The ceremony will include a cooking show, lectures and awareness workshops. Also present on the occasion will be health educators from QCS to answer questions from the participants. In addition, women who did Pap Smear test will enter the draw and win prizes.

Dr. Hadi Mohamad Abu Rasheed, head of the Professional Development and Scientific Research Department at QCS, said that cervical cancer is ranked fifth among the most common cancers in females in Qatar, as per the statistics from the National Cancer Registry of the Ministry of Health. Cervical cancer is ranked fourth at the level of prevalence, number of new cases, and death among all cancers in females worldwide according to World Health Organization (WHO) Cancer Statistics 2018 and one in every 73 women worldwide will develop cervical cancer over the course of her lifetime according to WHO statistics 2018.

QCS is holding awareness lectures and workshops involving the country’s diverse sectors to raise awareness of the symptoms of the disease, the factors responsible for it as well as methods of prevention and cure. Mrs. Heba Nasser, head of the Health Education Department at QCS, noted that cervical cancer is the abnormal growth of the cervical cells, the lower part of uterus. Cervical cancer can affect any woman and especially between the age of 20 and 50 and one of most common cancers in women worldwide. According to Nasser, risk factors for the disease include human papillomavirus infection, smoking, recurrent cervical infections, family history, having given birth to three or more children, using birth control pills for a long time and lack of screening. Cervical cancer often does not show symptoms until it is in an advanced stage. So, it is important to start early detection tests regularly even when one is healthy. She noted that the Pap test is a simple one and the best time to do the test is 10-14 days from the first day of menstruation. The first Pap test should be done after three years of marriage if the age is 21 years or above. After the first Pap test, women should go for the test every three years until the age of 65. After 65, the test can be stopped if the last three Pap tests are normal. Pap tests can be done in most of the health centers of Primary Health Care Corporation.

Qatar Cancer Society (QCS) celebrated Qatar National Day by launching “we are fine ” event Which lasted for three days at the its headquarters at Barwa Towers, Al Sadd –
QCS chairman HE Sheikh Dr Khalid bin Jabor al-Thani, launched a mural, ‘We are fine’ at the event attended by general manager Mariam al-Noaimi and a number of members of the board of directors, honorary ambassadors and public figures. The opening was also attended by Qatari artiste Ghanem Shaheen, who sang a collection of his national songs. School students took part in the activities in the morning.

HE Sheikh Dr Khalid bin Jabor al Thani, QCS Chairman, said that the National Day celebrations provide opportunity for Qatar’s citizens and residents to have a sense belonging and loyalty, while emphasising the importance of pride and dignity.

He stressed QCS keenness to launch awareness and educational campaigns throughout the year, especially during the celebration of the National Day, to raise community awareness about cancer.

“Since its inception in 1997, the QCS has never overlooked its basic objectives of providing treatment for cancer patients who are unable to afford medical expenses
QCS general manager Mariam al-Noaimi expressed her wish that Qatar will continue its development march under the patronage of our wise government, and Qatar national day will come every year and that Qatar has taken more strides and jumped forward in the march of progress, prosperity and achievement.

Qatar Cancer Society (QCS) participated in the activities of the 28th Doha International Book Fair, Which was held in 29 Nov- 5Dec 2017 at the Doha Exhibition and Convention Centre with a pavilion dedicated to raising public awareness about the importance of healthy food and exercise in preventing diseases, especially cancer.

QCS pavilion includes various works of educational competitions and recreational sections suitable for all ages, in addition to provide all information related to cancer and answer all inquiries of the masses.
Doha International Book Fair is a great chance to spread a health culture especially with the rising number of cases of the disease,

This participation is in keeping with the keenness to participate in all scientific and cultural events held in the country, which aim to promote a healthy lifestyle through exercise and healthy food and raise awareness on the risk factors that cause cancer , It also aims to encourage early detection of cancer and activation of national programmes for the fight against cancer as a shared responsibility between government and non-governmental sectors .

Qatar cancer society ‘QCS” held the ‘Cancer Care for Primary Car 2 ’ symposium in cooperation with Hamad Medical at Ooredoo Cancer Awareness Centre recently, Around 100 primary health care providers from the public and private sectors took part in the event, in addition to that some health care providers outside from Qatar were invited to be involved in such activity through effective collaborations such as Oman Cancer Association and International Cancer Prevention Consortium(ICPC) . The participants were honoured and certificates were given to the lecturers.

Sheikh Dr Khalid bin Jabor al-Thani – QCS chairman – said The organization of this symposium was the result of the Acharity’s efforts to fulfill its promise through the launch of quality programs of international standards in the field of awareness and training, As well as community partnerships that the Charity is keen to implement with all institutions.
“The centre will implement an awareness strategy to help change the mindset of the people about cancer and reduce the stigma associated with the disease, and it will also help increase the quality of life by increasing awareness about healthy and safe lifestyle to prevent cancer,” he added.

Dr. Abdul Azeem Abdul Haab ,QCS Vice Chairman – Director of Surgery Department, Chief Medical Staff at Al- Ahli Hospital in Qatar, said the symposium was delivered by speakers and top experts in the field of cancer from Qatar And Presented what healthcare provider needs to know about cancer such as The most common types of cancers among men in Qatar , Early detection of cancer and how to convert suspected cases of cancer , Palliative care for cancer patient and The role of primary health care providers in leukemia .
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the symposium included The CPD Activity is a Category 1 – Accredited Group Learning Activity as defined by the Qatar Council for Healthcare Practitioners – Accreditation Department and is approved for a maximum of 8.5 hours. QCHP- AD Activity code A82, Dr. Abdul Azeem added.
About The Overall learning objectives He said ‘This activity will improve the participants’ knowledge about The signs and symptoms of various cancers to determine when a patient should be referred as a suspected cancer case, The referral and follow up pathways for suspected cancer cases in the State of Qatar, Current cancer epidemiology in the State of Qatar,