"Tumor Boards” a Hit at UAE Breast Cancer Conference

The first United Arab Emirates' (UAE) multidisciplinary conference on breast cancer, marking the end of breast cancer awareness month, took place at the Al Murooj Rotana in Dubai from October 29-31, 2009. More than 150 doctors with varying specialties from across the UAE participated in the conference, which was dedicated to best practice in the screening, diagnosis, treatment, and after care of the disease, which affects one in 12 women worldwide.

A special feature of the conference was U.S.-style daily "Tumor Boards," where delegates were invited to take part in discussions on individual breast cancer cases--talking through the diagnosis, based on imaging and pathology reports, and determining best treatment of an anonymous patient. Eight breast cancer specialists from the U.S. MD Anderson Cancer Center (Houston, TX, USA), one of the world's leading cancer centers helped to run the "boards,” and gave presentations.

"The tumor boards are an integral part of breast cancer care in the United States, and have been shown to improve development of individualized treatment plans, that ultimately has a positive impact on long term survival," said congress president, Dr. Shaheenah Dawood, a senior medical oncologist in the UAE.

The congress was held by the Emirates Medical Association (EMA) under the patronage of His Highness Sheikh Hamdan bin Mohammed bin Rashid Al Maktoum, Crown Prince of Dubai and chairman of the executive council, and in collaboration with the Ministry of Health and the Dubai Health Authority.

The conference was endorsed by the American Society of Clinical Oncology, and was the final event of a month-long EMA campaign to raise awareness of breast cancer among healthcare professionals and the public.

Related Links:
U.S. MD Anderson Cancer Center
Emirates Medical Association
Ministry of Health (Dubai)