Emirates Oncology Society Hosted a Panel Discussion to Outline Guidelines for Diagnosis and Treatment of Prostate Cancer.
Around 4,500 cases of cancer are recorded in a year in the UAE and the country strives to bring down cancer deaths to nearly 18 per cent by 2021. Decreasing the mortality due to prostate cancer is one of the key production symbols of the support of world-class health care of the UAE National Agenda. This was an important topic at a lately held panel forum that centred around on the management of prostate cancer patients held by Emirates Urological Society.
The panel discussion observed the appearance of many key experts. Managing the panel study was Dr Humaid Al Shamsi, President of Emirates Oncology Society (EOS). He was accompanied by different experts including Dr Neal Shone, Dr Jawaher Ali Ansari and Dr Yasser Farhat. Early discovery is the key to surviving prostate cancer. When the condition is in its beginning stages (0-II), less intrusive treatment is required, and the survival rate is almost 100 per cent. But, if left undetected and left to progress to other areas in the body, the five-year survival rate drops significantly to 30 per cent, said Dr Shamsi.
Elaborating on the need to increase awareness about this cancer that affects men, he said, Every male above the age of 45 must take a prostate-specific antigen (PSA) test. A PSA test is a simple blood test which is used to look for prostate cancer, helping with advanced detection. At the panel discussion, panellists were given a chance to hear directly from patients of prostate cancers. The summit centred on the often-overlooked irrational burden of the disease, aiming to allow the people to build a needs-based support plan to address ways of increasing cancer patients day-to-day quality of life.
Besides, the study also highlighted UAEs efforts in offering advanced technology to treat cancer, as well as led to focus latest trends, improved facilities and deployment of experts by the UAE which has been a key force in aiding patients with the best treatment. Signs of prostate cancer usually appear during the late stages of the disease, as such experts at the panel encouraged a screening via genetic testing for men with a strong family history of cancer - such as prostate, breast, pancreatic or colon cancer - to better understand their risk.
