The Lebanese Organization for Studies and Training (LOST), in cooperation with the Children’s Cancer Center in Lebanon (CCCL) at the American University of Beirut (AUB), held an awareness seminar on child cancer and prevention, attended by interested citizens from Baalbeck at LOST Baalbeck.
After the national anthem, the director of the center, Dr. Hanaa Shoaib thanked LOST for the initiative, stating, “these seminars are very important for spreading awareness among people about cancer, how to prevent it, and the need for early diagnosis”. She also added that the center, which has been opened since 2002 has treated 1,550 children til this very day, and fifty children are receiving treatment at the center daily.
Dr. Dima Hamida, a specialist in pediatric cancer, gave a short presentation on this type of cancer as she also provided some numbers on the disease in Lebanon. Dr. Hamida stated, “the prevalence of the disease among children is between 280 and 300 new infections per year. Half of the cases are usually diagnosed at advanced stages, and here comes the need to spread and raise awareness on the symptoms of the disease and on early diagnosis, which leads to better results during treatment, and increases the chance to recover”. Dr. Hamida also stated that over 85% of children cancer cases that are treated in the center are cured, as she explained how the therapy and treatment works at the Children’s Cancer Center in Lebanon.
Dr. César Bassim, Chairman of the Board of Trustees of the Children’s Cancer Center in Lebanon, spoke about the follow-up of therapeutic plans and strategies from an integrated team of specialist doctors. He said that the treatment also includes Syrian children and the center also works with hospitals and centers in the urban regions to establish similar centers, and by such, reduce the burden on infected children and their families.
In conclusion, the teenager Salah Qaisbani talked about his experience in battling cancer since childhood and his journey to full recovery.
