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    Campaign Calls for Early and Accurate Ovarian Cancer Diagnosis

    29 may 2021
    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.
    • Campaign Calls for Early and Accurate Ovarian Cancer Diagnosis

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