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Qatar's first high-risk oncology screening clinic, located at the National Center for Cancer Research and Treatment (NCCCR) – a member of Hamad Medical Corporation (HMC) – has seen an increase in the number of people visiting the clinic since it opened in 2013.
The clinic, part of NCCCR's genomic and genomic cancer medicine program, provides genetic counseling and testing services to people who are concerned about their cancer risk because of their personal and / or family history.
This program is the first of its kind in the region and was created to support people at higher risk of developing cancer during their lifetime due to hereditary factors. The program is supported by a multidisciplinary team of specialists in oncology laboratories, genetic counseling and molecular genetics, as well as a number of international genetics laboratories.
Since its inception in 2013, more than 2,500 patients have been evaluated at the clinic, and approximately 60% of them have been diagnosed with cancer. Dr. Salha Bujbadoum, Senior Consultant of the NCCCR and Director of the Hereditary and High-Risk Cancer Screening Program, said the multidisciplinary clinic was intended to identify patients likely to develop the disease as a result of the disease. early diagnosis, strong family history, or positive genetic test result.
"With advances in genomics and precision medicine, the cancer medicine and cancer genomics program is becoming an essential part of the care provided to patients and their families in Qatar. As the first program of its kind in the Middle East, ours has not only helped to make HMC a leader and innovator in patient and family centered care, but also a model for improving care that people other countries in the Middle East can follow. , Said Dr. Bujbadoum.
"In addition to providing direct care, by developing clinical practice guidelines and training sessions on hereditary cancers for clinicians and health professionals, the program also includes an educational component. It offers a number of educational meetings and research projects on the many aspects of cancer, "added Dr. Bujbadoum.
Dr. Reem Alsulaiman, an approved genetic counselor on the board of directors, explained that while the cancer genetics program was aimed primarily at patients at risk of developing an inherited bad or ovarian cancer, it had been expanded in recent years. According to her, the service now provides care to patients at higher than normal risk of developing other types of cancers, including a hereditary aetiology, such as gastrointestinal, endocrine, gynecological, dermatological cancers, urological, hematologic, as well as several rare cancers.
At the end of last year, this initiative caught the attention of the international community when an article of scientific research highlighting the establishment of this program in Qatar was published in the prestigious academic publication – Journal of Genetics molecular and genomic medicine. The article was reviewed by an international editorial board composed of experts in various fields of human and medical genetics and genomics.
Last update: January 26, 2019 14:56
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