Middle East Cancer Consortium

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Official Logo of the Middle East Cancer Consortium Logo of the Middle East Cancer Consortium 2015.jpg
Official Logo of the Middle East Cancer Consortium

The Middle East Cancer Consortium (MECC) is a regional initiative for cancer research and treatment. Established in 1996, MECC members include the United States, Cyprus, Egypt, Israel, Jordan, the Palestinian Authority, and Turkey. MECC aims to reduce the incidence and impact of cancer in the Middle East region through the solicitation and support of collaborative research and regional education. Its motto is: "Respect all people, collaborate in fighting human suffering, and help build a bridge for better understanding among all." [1] [2] [3]

United States Federal republic in North America

The United States of America (USA), commonly known as the United States or America, is a country comprising 50 states, a federal district, five major self-governing territories, and various possessions. At 3.8 million square miles, the United States is the world's third or fourth largest country by total area and is slightly smaller than the entire continent of Europe. With a population of over 327 million people, the U.S. is the third most populous country. The capital is Washington, D.C., and the most populous city is New York City. Most of the country is located contiguously in North America between Canada and Mexico.

Cyprus Island country in the Mediterranean

Cyprus, officially the Republic of Cyprus, is an island country in the Eastern Mediterranean and the third largest and third most populous island in the Mediterranean, located south of Turkey, west of Syria and Lebanon, northwest of Israel and Palestine, north of Egypt, and southeast of Greece.

Egypt Country spanning North Africa and Southwest Asia

Egypt, officially the Arab Republic of Egypt, is a country in the northeast corner of Africa, whose territory in the Sinai Peninsula extends beyond the continental boundary with Asia, as traditionally defined. Egypt is bordered by the Gaza Strip and Israel to the northeast, the Gulf of Aqaba and the Red Sea to the east, Sudan to the south, Libya to the west, and the Mediterranean Sea to the north. Across the Gulf of Aqaba lies Jordan, across the Red Sea lies Saudi Arabia, and across the Mediterranean lie Greece, Turkey and Cyprus, although none share a land border with Egypt.

Contents

Leadership

The executive director of MECC is Michael Silbermann.

Michael Silbermann

Michael Silbermann is an Israeli maxillofacial surgeon and health educator. He is currently the executive director of the Middle East Cancer Consortium.

History

MECC was established through an official agreement of the ministries of health of its six member states in the Middle East. [4] It has launched and sustained academic-based medical programs that bring together scientists, academicians and clinical professionals from its member countries, joined by medical personnel from many other countries in the Middle East. [5]

Middle East region that encompasses Western Asia and Egypt

The Middle East is a transcontinental region centered on Western Asia, Turkey, and Egypt. Saudi Arabia is geographically the largest Middle Eastern nation while Bahrain is the smallest. The corresponding adjective is Middle Eastern and the derived noun is Middle Easterner. The term has come into wider usage as a replacement of the term Near East beginning in the early 20th century.

Initially, MECC established a successful Middle Eastern Network of Cancer Registry Centers, involving medical professionals of the participating countries as part of a US National Cancer Institute initiative. [6] The project began with the establishment of a regional network of cancer registries documenting the incidence of various cancers and stage of disease at diagnosis. From the start, the work in the region was based on collaborative efforts, consisting of training courses, workshops, and educational conferences. [7] [8]

National Cancer Institute US research institute, part of National Institutes of Health

The National Cancer Institute (NCI) coordinates the United States National Cancer Program and is part of the National Institutes of Health (NIH), which is one of eleven agencies that are part of the U.S. Department of Health and Human Services. The NCI conducts and supports research, training, health information dissemination, and other activities related to the causes, prevention, diagnosis, and treatment of cancer; the supportive care of cancer patients and their families; and cancer survivorship.

Achievements

MECC's achievements include:

Palliative care is an interdisciplinary approach to specialized medical and nursing care for people with chronic conditions. It focuses on providing relief from the symptoms, pain, physical stress, and mental stress at any stage of illness. The goal is to improve quality of life for both the person and their family. Evidence as of 2016 supports palliative care's efficacy in the improvement of a patient's quality of life.

Related Research Articles

Cervical cancer cancer arising from the cervix, caused by a sexually transmitted virus

Cervical cancer is a cancer arising from the cervix. It is due to the abnormal growth of cells that have the ability to invade or spread to other parts of the body. Early on, typically no symptoms are seen. Later symptoms may include abnormal vaginal bleeding, pelvic pain or pain during sexual intercourse. While bleeding after sex may not be serious, it may also indicate the presence of cervical cancer.

Lymphoma hematologic cancer that affects lymphocytes that reside in the lymphatic system and in blood-forming organs

Lymphoma is a group of blood cancers that develop from lymphocytes. The name often refers to just the cancerous versions rather than all such tumors. Signs and symptoms may include enlarged lymph nodes, fever, drenching sweats, unintended weight loss, itching, and constantly feeling tired. The enlarged lymph nodes are usually painless. The sweats are most common at night.

Cancer group of diseases

Cancer is a group of diseases involving abnormal cell growth with the potential to invade or spread to other parts of the body. These contrast with benign tumors, which do not spread. Possible signs and symptoms include a lump, abnormal bleeding, prolonged cough, unexplained weight loss, and a change in bowel movements. While these symptoms may indicate cancer, they can also have other causes. Over 100 types of cancers affect humans.

Colorectal cancer cancer of the colon or rectum

Colorectal cancer (CRC), also known as bowel cancer and colon cancer, is the development of cancer from the colon or rectum. A cancer is the abnormal growth of cells that have the ability to invade or spread to other parts of the body. Signs and symptoms may include blood in the stool, a change in bowel movements, weight loss, and feeling tired all the time.

Oral cancer gastrointestinal system cancer that is located in the oral cavity

Oral cancer, also known as mouth cancer, is cancer of the lining of the lips, mouth, or upper throat. In the mouth, it most commonly starts as a painless white patch, that thickens, develops red patches, an ulcer, and continues to grow. When on the lips, it commonly looks like a persistent crusting ulcer that does not heal, and slowly grows. Other symptoms may include difficult or painful swallowing, new lumps or bumps in the neck, a swelling in the mouth, or a feeling of numbness in the mouth or lips.

Terminal illness or end-stage disease is an incurable disease that cannot be adequately treated and is reasonably expected to result in the death of the patient. This term is more commonly used for progressive diseases such as cancer or advanced heart disease than for trauma. In popular use, it indicates a disease that will progress until death with near absolute certainty, regardless of treatment. A patient who has such an illness may be referred to as a terminal patient, terminally ill or simply terminal. There is no standardized life expectancy for a patient to be considered terminal, although it is generally months or less. Life expectancy for terminal patients is a rough estimate given by the physician based on previous data and does not always reflect true longevity. An illness which is lifelong but not fatal is a chronic condition.

A cancer survivor is a person with cancer of any type who is still living. Whether a person becomes a survivor at the time of diagnosis or after completing treatment, whether people who are actively dying are considered survivors, and whether healthy friends and family members of the cancer patient are also considered survivors, varies from group to group. Some people who have been diagnosed with cancer reject the term survivor or disagree with some definitions of it.

Altretamine chemical compound

Altretamine is an antineoplastic agent. It was approved by the U.S. FDA in 1990.

Breast cancer chemotherapy

Breast cancer chemotherapy refers to the use of cytotoxic drugs (chemotherapy) in the treatment of breast cancer.

Stroke Belt

Stroke Belt or Stroke Alley is a name given to a region in the southeastern United States that has been recognized by public health authorities for having an unusually high incidence of stroke and other forms of cardiovascular disease. It is usually defined as a 9-state region consisting of Alabama, Arkansas, Georgia, Kentucky, Louisiana, Mississippi, North Carolina, South Carolina, and Tennessee. It is often disputed if Texas belongs in the Stroke Belt.

Geriatric oncology is a branch of medicine that is concerned with the diagnosis and treatment of cancer in the elderly, usually defined as aged 65 and older. This fairly young but increasingly important subspecialty incorporates the special needs of the elderly into the treatment of cancer.

Oncology branch of medicine

Oncology is a branch of medicine that deals with the prevention, diagnosis, and treatment of cancer. A medical professional who practices oncology is an oncologist. The name's etymological origin is the Greek word ὄγκος (ónkos), meaning "tumor", "volume" or "mass" and the word λόγος (logos), meaning "study".

Hospice care is a type of care and philosophy of care that focuses on the palliation of a chronically ill, terminally ill or seriously ill patient's pain and symptoms, and attending to their emotional and spiritual needs. In Western society, the concept of hospice has been evolving in Europe since the 11th century. Then, and for centuries thereafter in Roman Catholic tradition, hospices were places of hospitality for the sick, wounded, or dying, as well as those for travelers and pilgrims. The modern concept of hospice includes palliative care for the incurably ill given in such institutions as hospitals or nursing homes, but also care provided to those who would rather spend their last months and days of life in their own homes. The first modern hospice care was created by Cicely Saunders in 1967.

Epidemiology of cancer The study of the extent of cancer spread

The epidemiology of cancer is the study of the factors affecting cancer, as a way to infer possible trends and causes. The study of cancer epidemiology uses epidemiological methods to find the cause of cancer and to identify and develop improved treatments.

Prophylactic cranial irradiation (PCI) is a technique used to combat the occurrence of metastasis to the brain in highly aggressive cancers that commonly metastasize to brain, most notably small-cell lung cancer. Radiation therapy is commonly used to treat known tumor occurrence in the brain, either with highly precise stereotactic radiation or therapeutic cranial irradiation. By contrast, PCI is intended as preemptive treatment in patients with no known current intracranial tumor, but with high likelihood for harboring occult microscopic disease and eventual occurrence. For small-cell lung cancer with limited and select cases of extensive disease, PCI has shown to reduce recurrence of brain metastases and improve overall survival in complete remission.

Pallium India is a national registered charitable trust formed in 2003 aimed at providing quality palliative care and effective pain relief for patients in India. Dr. M. R. Rajagopal is the founder and chairman of Pallium India. Pallium India works in collaboration with several national and international organisations to improve the accessibility and affordability of pain relief drugs (opioids) and other low-cost medicines, to ensure the availability of palliative care services in India and to improve the quality of palliative care services provided by the healthcare and allied health care professionals. In February 2016, Pallium India was accredited by Social Justice Department of Government of Kerala.

The End-of-Life Nursing Education Consortium (ELNEC) project is a national education initiative whose mission is to improve palliative care. The project provides an undergraduate and graduate nursing faculty, CE providers, staff development educators, specialty nurses in pediatrics, oncology, critical care, and geriatrics, and other nurses with training in palliative care so they can teach this information to nursing students and practicing nurses. ELNEC is a partnership between the American Association of Colleges of Nursing (AACN), Washington, DC and the City of Hope, Duarte, CA. The project provides undergraduate and graduate nursing faculty, CE providers, staff development educators, specialty nurses in pediatrics, oncology, critical care, and geriatrics, and other nurses with palliative care training. Once trained, these healthcare professionals go on to teach this essential information to nursing students and practicing nurses. The project, which began in February 2000, was initially funded by a major grant from The Robert Wood Johnson Foundation (RWJF). The National Cancer Institute (NCI), American Association of Colleges of Nursing (AACN), US Cancer Pain Relief Committee, the Aetna, Archstone, Oncology Nursing, California HealthCare, Milbank, Stupski, Open Society, and Cambia Health Foundations, and the Department of Veterans Affairs (VA) have provided additional funding.

Gynecologic cancer disparities in the United States

Gynecologic cancer disparities in the United States refer to differences in incidence, prevalence, and mortality from gynecologic cancers between population groups. The five main types of gynecologic cancer include cervical cancer, ovarian cancer, endometrial cancer, vaginal cancer, and vulvar cancer. For patients with these and other gynecologic malignancies within the United States, disparities across the care continuum by socioeconomic status and racial/ethnic background have been previously identified and studied. The causes behind these disparities are multifaceted and a complex interplay of systemic differences in health as well as individual patient factors such as cultural, educational, and economic barriers.

References

  1. Silbermann, Michael (2008). "The Middle East Cancer Consortium (MECC): A bridge to understanding between people". Bridges. 4: 4–7.
  2. Silbermann, M; Dweib, Khleif A; Balducci, L (2010). "Healing by cancer". J. Clin. Oncol. 28 (8): 1436–1437. doi:10.1200/JCO.2009.24.8161. PMID   19917857.
  3. Levin, A (June 3, 1998). "Middle East Cancer Consortium stays on track to collect data". J. Natl. Cancer Inst. 90 (11): 807–808. doi:10.1093/jnci/90.11.807. PMID   9625167.
  4. "Middle East Cancer Consortium (MECC)". National Cancer Institute at the National Institutes of Health. National Cancer Institute. Archived from the original on 4 April 2015. Retrieved 2 May 2015.
  5. "Middle East Cancer Consortium (MECC)". National Cancer Institute at the National Institutes of Health. National Cancer Institute. Archived from the original on 4 April 2015. Retrieved 2 May 2015.
  6. Freedman, LS; Edwards, BK; Ries, LAG; et al., eds. (2006). Cancer Incidence in Four Member Countries (Cyprus, Egypt, Israel, and Jordan) of the Middle East Cancer Consortium (MECC) Compared with US SEER (NIH Pub. No. 06-5873 ed.). Bethesda, MD: National Cancer Institut e.
  7. Silbermann, M; Freedman, L; Al-Kayed, S; Barchana, M; Najjar, K; Ibrahim, A; Salhab, AR; Young, JL; Roffers, S; Qasem, B; Harford, J (1999). "Cancer registration in the Middle East". J. Islamic Acad. Sci. 12 (2): 55–56.
  8. Silbermann, M (2003). "Perspectives for cancer epidemiology research in the Middle East". Rev. J. Gastrointestinal Oncol. 4 (2–3): 181–183. doi:10.1080/1475956021000020198.
  9. Bingley, Amanda; Clark, David, eds. (2008). Palliative care in the region represented by the Middle East Cancer Consortium a review and comparative analysis (NIH Publication No. 07-6230 ed.). Bethesda, MD: National Cancer Institute, U.S. Dept. of Health and Human Services, National Institutes of Health.
  10. Skinner, MA; Abdeen, Z; Abdeen, H; Aber, P; et, al. (2005). "Promoting Arab and Israeli cooperation: Peacebuilding through health initiatives". The Lancet. 365 (9466): 1274–1277. doi:10.1016/s0140-6736(05)74817-0. PMID   15811462.
  11. Silbermann, M; Arnaout, M; Daher, M; et, al. (2012). "Palliative cancer care in Middle Eastern countries: accomplishments and challenges". Ann Oncol. Suppl 3: 15–28. doi:10.1093/annonc/mds084. PMC   3493144 . PMID   22628412.
  12. Balducci, L (May 23, 2009). "Cancer's common ground in Mideast". Tampa Bay Times. Retrieved 18 July 2015.