Qatar’s healthcare providers to join hands to raise lung cancer awareness

Lung cancer has been found to be the second most common cancer globally and is ranked fifth and eighth among the most common cancers in Qatar

THE Ministry of Public Health (MoPH) along with Hamad Medical Corporation (HMC), Primary Health Care Corporation (PHCC) and Qatar Cancer Society (QCS), are partnering once again to strengthen their efforts to raise awareness of lung cancer throughout May – the Lung Cancer Awareness Month - and also for the World No Tobacco Day.

Lung cancer is the uncontrolled growth of abnormal cells in one or both lungs; usually in the cells that line the air passages.

Lung cancer is the second most common cancer globally and is ranked 5th and 8th among the most common cancers in Qatar according to 2015 Annual Report of Qatar National Cancer Registry at the Ministry of Public Health.

Over 16 percent of cancerrelated deaths among Qatar’s population in 2015 were caused by lung cancer and tobacco use is responsible for about 90 percent of all cases of lung cancer. The joint efforts of Qatar’s healthcare partners focus on encouraging the public to quit smoking and to lead a healthier life.

Dr Sheikh Mohammed al Thani, director of Public Health at MOPH, said: “On this World No Tobacco Day, the Ministry of Public Health and its partners are calling on people to quit tobacco smoking and say no to second-hand smoke to protect their lungs. Tobacco is harmful in all its forms.

“Tobacco smoking and second-hand smoke can cause lung cancer, chronic obstructive pulmonary disease and asthma. MoPH is contributing to cancer control by leading nationwide awareness interventions against all cancer risk factors. With this aim, activities are being held across Qatar to provide information to encourage tobacco users to quit and where to access smoking cessation clinics in Qatar.”

Catherine Gillespie, director of the National Cancer Programme, said: “Not smoking is the single most effective way of reducing the risk of developing lung cancer. We need to support those people who want to stop smoking as well as encouraging young people not to take up the habit.”

Professor Alex Knuth, chief executive officer and medical director of the National Center of Cancer Care and Research at HMC, stressed the importance of smoking cessation counselling as an important measure that smokers should take to understand the risk of developing lung cancer they face.

He also encouraged people to refrain from unhealthy eating habits and physical inactivity, stressing that adopting a healthy lifestyle, quitting smoking and eating a balanced diet will reduce the risk of developing lung cancer as well as many other diseases.

Dr Shaikha Abu Shaikha, manager of Screening Programs at PHCC, said: “The most common symptoms of lung cancer are a persistent cough, coughing up blood, chest pain and hoarseness, shortness of breath, wheezing and feeling tired or weak. Unfortunately, most lung cancers do not show any symptoms until they have spread.

Therefore, prevention is always better than cure. It is a fact that smoking is the most common cause of lung cancer, and to help minimise that, Primary Health Care Corporation has specialised clinics to help people quit smoking in 10 health centres. People can directly call 107 to schedule an appointment.”

Hiba Nassar, head of the Health Education Department at QCS, said: “QCS runs a campaign in the World No Tobacco Day (WNTD) framework every year to stress the importance of quitting smoking and underline the effects of both active and passive smoking. Thereby complementing the educational role of the QCS since its establishment in 1997 to raise awareness of cancer and refute the myths associated with this devastating disease.”

Over 16 percent of cancerrelated deaths among Qatar’s population in 2015 were caused by lung cancer and tobacco use is responsible for about 90 percent of all cases of lung cancer