By Amina Abdul Salam The Egyptian Society to Support Patients with Cancer recently organised the first forum of Arab associations working to combat cancer. Dr Mohssen Moukhtar, Professor of Oncology Cairo University, says that for the first time all Arab associations concerned with fighting cancer have coordinated their efforts to combat cancer under the auspices of Arab League (AL). Dr Moukhtar, Head of the Egyptian Society to Support Patients with Cancer, pointed out that Egypt has launched an initiative to raise awareness of the risks of cancer, "depending on the inter-connectedness of our Arab community." He said that the main target of the forum was to form an association of non-governmental associations (NGOs) supporting cancer patients and to unify efforts to help the Arab patient with cancer. He said that early detection of the disease was important for treatment. Dr Mohamed Adel, Medical Director of the Saudi Cancer Association, praised the Arab League for hosting this forum. Prostate cancer, he said, is the third most prevalent kind of cancer in the Kingdom. He said there there was effective treatment for curing prostate cancer. The role played by the media in support of cancer patients, he said, was no less important than the scalpel of the surgeon.
