85% of kids with leukaemia survive

Up to 60 new cases of cancer in children are reported in Dubai each year of which majority are leukaemia (blood cancer) cases, according to a senior health official from Dubai Health Authority. Due to improved treatment and better care today, 85 per cent of children with leukaemia survive, said Dr Abdulrahman Mohammad Al Jassmi, Head of Pediatric Hematology and Oncology, Dubai Hospital during the two-day 5th Arab Children Health Congress that started on Wednesday. The theme of this year’s congress is ‘Childhood Cancer: Towards a Positive Approach’ which aims to highlight pediatric cancers on a local and regional level and to raise public awareness about the need for early intervention. Currently, 700 children are undergoing treatment at Dubai Hospital that is among the three hospitals that offer treatment to children in the UAE. “Fortunately, cancer incidents in the Arab world are not as high (80 to 100 cases per 100,000) as in the West where 400 cases per 100,000 people are reported,” said the doctor. Leukaemia makes up 45 per cent of all cancers in children followed by lymphoma and brain tumours. Dr Al Jassmi said: “Thirty years ago, leukaemia used to cause the death of more than 50 per cent of patients with this disease, within six months of diagnosis. Today, with several forms of treatments available, ranging from chemotherapy to radiotherapy, there has been a high decline in mortality rates. For example, the success rate for cases of lymphoma is now 90 per cent, which is a significant improvement.” “Cost of treatment is high and in some cases patients can have to pay up to Dh100,000 for a two year treatment,” said the doctor. Treatment, however, is free for Emiratis. No single factor triggers cancer. “Smoking is one cause of cancer and research says that Arab children start smoking at an early age,” said Dr Abdulla Al Nasser, Consultant at King Faisal Specialist Hospital, Saudi Arabia while calling for prevention. “Cancer care in Arab countries varies and is not optimal,” he added. Dr Elissar Sarrouh, UN Resident Coordinator and UNDP Resident Representative in the UAE said that children living with cancer should have access to comprehensive healthcare including provision of psycho-social support and counseling services for them and their families. Qadhi Al Murooshid, Director General of Dubai Health Authority pointed out that the Al Jalila Children’s Specialty Hospital, once operational, will provide state-of-the-art pediatric care to patients in the UAE and the region.