Doha, December 02 (QNA) - Qatar Cancer Society (QCS) concluded the International Congress of Gastrointestinal Cancers 2023 today. Over 1,000 primary health care providers and researchers attended the conference.
The Congress has come out with a set of recommendations to enhance cancer care and prevent gastrointestinal cancers in the country and beyond. Some of the major recommendations are: Establish Multidisciplinary Teams: Encourage institutions to form multidisciplinary teams, combining the expertise of surgeons, oncologists, radiologists, pathologists, and nurse specialists for comprehensive Gastrointestinal Cancers (GI) cancer care.
Enhance Surgical Training Programs: Develop advanced training programs for surgeons, focusing on the latest techniques in the surgical management of GI cancers, including colorectal, hepatic, and pancreatic cancers.
Promote Precision Oncology Research: Advocate for increased funding and support for research in precision oncology to personalize colorectal cancer treatment, enhancing its efficacy and reducing side effects.
Implement Liver Transplant Protocols: Recommend the adoption of specialized protocols for liver transplantation in metastatic colorectal cancer cases, ensuring optimal patient selection and post-operative care.
Adopt Clinical Guidelines: Urge healthcare providers to adopt and integrate the Clinical Practice Guidelines into their treatment plans for metastatic colorectal cancer, ensuring evidence-based care.
Organize Public Awareness Campaigns: Initiate public awareness campaigns on the importance of early detection and screening for GI cancers, focusing on risk factors and preventive strategies.
Expand Access to Advanced Imaging: Facilitate wider access to advanced imaging technologies like CT-PET for accurate staging and monitoring of GI cancers, especially in under-resourced areas.
Foster Economic Research in GI Cancer Treatment:Encourage studies on the cost-effectiveness of various GI cancer treatment modalities to inform policy decisions and healthcare spending.
Enhance Patient Support Services: Establish comprehensive patient support services, including nutritional counseling, psychological support, and pain management, to improve the quality of life for patients with GI cancers.
Create Specialized Cancer Units: Advocate for the development of specialized cancer units like the Oesophago-Gastric Cancer Unit in Qatar, focusing on targeted treatment and research in specific types of GI cancers.
The second day of the Congress included two sessions, targeting members of the public. It presented methods of prevention and early detection of gastrointestinal cancers, factors that cause them, and methods of diagnosis and treatment, with a focus on the role of food in preventing the disease.
There was also an accompanying medical exhibition to provide free consultation services both medical and nutritional and perform biometric and body mass index measurements for the public. (QNA)