Top experts throw light on treating cancerous tumours

DUBAI - The establishment of the first unit for treating cancer using radioactive iodine at Dubai Hospital was discussed during a five-day training course held at the hospital.

By Hani M. Bathish

Published: Tue 6 Jan 2004, 12:32 PM

Last updated: Thu 2 Apr 2015, 2:17 AM

The `Regional Training Course on Applications of Nuclear Medicine in Treating Cancerous Tumours', was organised by the International Atomic Energy Agency (IAEA) in co-operation with the Dubai Department of Health and Medical Services (Dohms).

Dr Jamila Al Suwaidi, Assistant Director of Dubai Hospital for Complementary Medicine Affairs, said the training course comes in line with the IAEA's efforts to improve the nuclear medicine infrastructure of West Asian countries through holding training courses and workshops.

Participants in the five-day regional training course, which ended this week, stressed it was a huge success which helped to increase their knowledge in this crucial field of medicine, currently witnessing huge technological leaps worldwide.

The results of the final assessment survey for this training course showed it to be a huge hit with participants, whether in terms of organisation and preparation, the scientific content of the course material, the issues covered, the presentation and display of information, the qualifications of the instructors and the active participation by those attending the training course.

In all, 30 specialists from the UAE, India, Italy, Turkey, Austria, Jordan, Yemen, Kuwait, Qatar, Syria, Iran, Uzbekistan and Kazakhistan, took part in the training course. Dr Jamila, who chaired the training course, expressed her satisfaction with the final assessment survey, conducted on the course to determine how successful and beneficial the course has been, pointing to the importance of such a survey to help determine the shortfalls of such courses so they may be rectified in future.

She said the Dohms gives such courses and workshops, whether organised by the IAEA or other organisations, great importance through its hosting of such training programmes.

Dr. Suwaidi said that among the issues covered in the training programme are cancer treatment and the most modern methods for diagnosis and treatment. The need to adopt the latest imaging technology, including multi layer scanning and Positron Emission Tomography (PET), was stressed. The PET is a recent technology that allows physicians to examine the heart, brain, liver, tumours and muscle tissue in ways never before possible.

The training programme also covered the causes of Thyroid Cancer, how to diagnose this type of cancer, especially diagnostic tests that utilise radioactive elements, as well as surgical treatment and the use of radioactive iodine in therapy.

The five-day training programme further discussed the methods of treatment and diagnosis of breast cancer, leukaemia, brain tumours and liver cancer. Also discussed was Beta scanning technology, which can detect different types of cancer like lung cancer.