Initiating Cancer Control Strategy in Iraq

In April 2008 a medical conference was organised for a group of Iraqi and

Arab Doctors. Here are the summaries of few of the presentations in the

conference:

Dr. Nada Alwan and her team presented her views about the cancer service in Iraq and the control strategy of cancer in the country.

She mentioned that recent WHO estimates indicate that cancer is the fourth ranked cause of death among adults in countries of the Eastern Mediterranean and North Africa following cardiovascular diseases, infectious diseases and injuries.

According to the latest Iraqi Cancer Registry, the most common tumours are those of the breast followed by cancers of the lymphatic system, lung, brain and bladder. Childhood cancers are 8-10 times more common than in the west. The majority of cancers in Iraq are detected in advanced stages and are thus incurable even if the best therapies could be offered.

It is essential to link therapy with early detection and to adopt health education approaches for both the public and health professionals.

Accordingly, WHO embarked upon developing a cancer control strategy within the Eastern Mediterranean countries (depending upon the available regional strengths and resources); through a coordinated approach which include: Prevention, Early Detection, Treatment and Palliative Care.