Muscat: The Oman Cancer Association (OCA) recently organised Continuing Medical Education (CME) programme in Muscat. The event was under auspices of Dr Wahid al Kharusi, President and Chairperson of OCA. This month's session, co-ordinated by OCA and Global Treatment Services in association with MGM Hospitals Chennai, India, focused on "HSCT in Haematological Malignancies" with a special emphasis on haploidentical transplants, and included a brief talk on HIPEC.
Dr Deenadayalan M, senior consultant and clinical lead in paediatric haematology, oncology and bone marrow transplant, graced the event. He discussed the current scenario and recent advances in oncology. The following keynote speaker, Dr Salah al Jabri, head of the liver transplant committee at Royal Hospital, delivered a talk on "Hepatocellular Carcinoma: Where Are We Standing." Dr Salah summarised that liver transplantation significantly improves survival rates among HCC patients. He noted that advanced liver disease, in terms of Child-Pugh score, CKD, and BCLC/TNM staging, predicts poor clinical outcomes. He also confirmed that antiviral treatments for hepatitis patients reduce the risk of death among those with HCC.
Dr Al Kharusi reaffirmed OCA's commitment to raising awareness and advocating for cancer patients and their families. "Our primary mission is to educate the community, support cancer patients and their families and provide essential information to healthcare providers," he stated. Dr Al Kharusi emphasised the importance of education as a fundamental tool in OCA's efforts. "We aim to educate not only the public and cancer patients but also their relatives and healthcare providers. It is crucial for healthcare professionals to have a comprehensive understanding of the disease," he said.
Empowerment is another key aspect of OCA's work, particularly for women. Dr Al Kharusi explained, "Women are the cornerstone of our society and must be protected and empowered. If women are well-informed and supported, the chances of early cancer detection increase significantly. Early diagnosis, especially at stage one, allows for effective treatment and a higher likelihood of recovery."
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