Management of Breast and Colorectal Cancer: Recent Updates - PDF Version

16-18 November 2019, Kuwait 

Final Report of the Conference 

This conference, aimed at nursing staff, radiation therapists and radiation physicists, drew 10 international and 14 local speakers from 10 countries: Canada, Egypt, France, India, the Kingdom of Saudi Arabia, Kuwait, Oman, Qatar, United Arab Emirates, and the United Kingdom. 

The conference programme involved two workshops entitled: “Nursing role in management and care of colorectal patients” and “Motion management in radiation therapy in breast cancer”. There was also a poster session. 

At the end of the conference, a public session was held in Arabic for attendees from non-governmental organisations and other interested parties, which was attended by more than 400 people. This session highlighted the risk factors for contracting cancer, its early signs and the role of healthy lifestyles in prevention of cancers, especially colorectal cancer.  

This conference was held under the patronage of the Kuwait Minister of Health in Jumeriah Hotel in Kuwait City. The opening ceremony was attended by Ministry of Health undersecretary Dr Fawaz Alrefae and many other medical and general figures from Kuwait and the Gulf region. 

The Organising Committee: 

The organising committee started arranging this conference in mid-November 2018 and eight meetings were required to finalise the plan. The conference was registered to offer 15 continuing medical education (CME) points by the Kuwait Institute for Medical Specialities. 

The committee identified four main targets of the conference: 

1. Improve the knowledge and update the skills of the attendees by inviting eminent speakers in the topic area. 
2. Present the screening programmes used for both types of cancer, and compare the ongoing regional programmes with those used internationally to consider whether they met international recommendations. 
3. Update the Gulf Cooperation Council (GCC) management protocols and have them validated by the speakers three months before the meeting. 
4. Form an expert panel from the speakers for future collaboration, consultations, and research. 

Conference Progress 

More than 150 participants attended. Among the speakers was the International Agency for Research on Cancer (IARC) director Dr Elisabete Weiderpass, who highlighted the World Health Organization (WHO)/IARC recommendations for screening programmes for breast and colorectal cancer. 

The submitted posters were assessed and a "Best Poster" award was given. 

At the closing ceremony, conclusions and recommendations for future meetings were drawn up. 

A feedback questionnaire was distributed among a random sample of attendees. Among its findings was the request (from 12% of the respondents) that there should be more international speakers in future; more than 80% of respondents found the meeting well organised. 

Indicators regarding  Achievement of the conference's Targets: 

The conference  

1. Reported informative and updated scientific content on the topics. The information was clear in panel discussions after every session; 
2. Presented details of local and regional screening programmes and compared them with international recommendations; 
3. Organised a round-table discussion held in parallel to the meeting to discuss, review, update and validate the Gulf Federation Protocol for management of colorectal cancers; 
4. Formed a panel of experts that will consult with counterparts  overseas and develop research programmes. 

Dr Mustafa El-Sherify MBBCh, MSc, MD
Radiation Oncology Dept,
Kuwait Cancer Control Center
Sabah Medical District, Shuwaikh, Kuwait
E-mail: mustafashawki@yahoo.com 

Some photos from the meeting: