Screen kids for cancer, parents told
Oncology Conference in Abu Dhabi highlights importance of early diagnosis in treatment
Medical experts in Abu Dhabi yesterday urged parents to have their children screened for cancer, highlighting how early detection of the disease could significantly improve treatment.
While most cancer patients are usually adults, young children are not immune, doctors said at the Sixth International Oncology Conference, advising parents to educate themselves on the disease.
“Early diagnosis of a child with cancer can lead to a better outcome. One thing that we can all do as physicians, nurses, teachers, parents and anyone who deals with children, is to be educated on the alarming signs and symptoms of any [cancer] malignancies,” said Dr Saeeda Al Marzouqi, a histopathologist at Tawam Hospital.
She said that investing in a national research programme specifically for genetic mutations linked to cancer should be considered. “We need to establish a good paediatric cancer predisposition programme. And since these tumours [associated with genetic mutations] are very rare it is better to invest in one national programme that covers the entire population, this will make it more worthwhile in terms of expertise and financial expenditure instead of diverting resources among different centres,” she said.
Dr Zainul Aabideen, paediatric haematologist and oncologist at Burjeel Hospital, said mortality rates among children with cancer were going down thanks to advances in medicine, making it all the more important for parents to have their children diagnosed early.
“The outcome of childhood cancers has improved significantly in the last few decades. And so early diagnosis helps.”
Dr Aabideen said that raising awareness among parents to screen their children for cancer was crucial, and pointed to successful awareness programmes carried out in other countries that led to early diagnosis.