Beiruting News

Developments in Ovarian cancer management gearing
towards personalized medicine are helping to better control the disease and
minimize relapses, announced the Lebanese Society of Medical Oncology, the
Lebanese Gynecology Oncology Group, and AstraZeneca at the launch of an
awareness campaign endorsed by the Lebanese Ministry of Public Health to
commemorate World Ovarian Cancer Day.

“With medical advances that improve outcomes for women diagnosed with
Ovarian cancer emerging regularly, early and accurate diagnosis has become
extremely important, making it imperative for patients to visit a specialized
physician as soon as possible for necessary laboratory and genetic testing,” said
Professor Nizar Bitar, President of the Lebanese Society of Medical Oncology.

“Ovarian cancer still must be initially treated in specialized centers by experts on
managing this aggressive disease,” 2 said Professor David Atallah, Vice President
of the Lebanese Gynecology Oncology Group. “Treatment must be led by a
multi-disciplinary team that includes gynecologic oncologists, intensivists,
anesthesiologists, and oncologists, whose essential role is to triage patients
towards primary surgery or chemotherapy – and to assess the disease’s genetic
status which greatly impacts post-surgical outcomes.”

“Every cancer patient must be supported in his or her recovery and be able to
live a full life regardless of the disease or its aftermath, which is our aim at the
Barbara Nassar Association,” said Hany Nassar, President of the Barbara Nassar
Association which offers adult cancer patients support group sessions, conducts
awareness campaigns, and helps provide access to medication when needed.
“We are happy to join forces with the Lebanese Society of Medical Oncology and
the Lebanese Gynecology Oncology Group to shed light on the importance of
early – and most importantly accurate – diagnosis and management of Ovarian
cancer by using the most updated laboratory and genomic testing that offer
much needed hope for women living with this ruthless disease,” said Wael El
Hallak, AstraZeneca oncology medical manager in the Near East.

“We thank the media for its support in helping us raise awareness of this issue;
and call on women to recognize their risks and to discuss Ovarian cancer with
their physicians.”

There are no tests or screening tools available for Ovarian cancer. Symptoms
can often be confused with other less serious conditions. They include increased
abdominal size and persistent bloating; abdominal or pelvic pain; needing to
pass urine more urgently or more frequently; backpain; constant tiredness; and
weight loss. 1,2

Most Ovarian cancers develop after menopause, with half of all cases detected
in women over 63 years old, though the disease does sometimes attack younger
women. 3 Established contributing factors include obesity and smoking; a
condition called endometriosis; family history of Ovarian cancer; 4,5 and genetics. 6
About Ovarian Cancer

Ovarian cancer is the 8 th most common cancer among women worldwide, with
about 300,000 diagnosed annually. 7 All women have at least some risks of
developing Ovarian cancer. In the general population, this is around 2.7%,
though certain factors can increase the risk. 5 Those include mutated genes,
rendering genetic tests essential for allowing patients and doctors to make
informed treatment decisions.

In Lebanon, genito-urinary cancers are the second most common cancers
among women after breast cancer. The Ovarian cancer incidence rate stood at
8.4 per 100,000 in 2016 according to Lebanese Ministry of Public Health
statistics. 8 Over 200 cases of Ovarian cancer are diagnosed yearly in the country,
with an estimated 146 women dying from the disease every year.