Cancer treatment in Qatar makes great strides

Since its establishment in 2004, the National Center for Cancer Care and Research (NCCCR) has undergone many improvements in its management, admission, treatment and follow-up of patients, a senior health official has said."The centre diagnoses and treats cancer patients, we are treating them with radiotherapy, chemotherapy, targeted therapy (a type of cancer treatment that targets the changes in cancer cells that help them grow, divide, and spread), and immunology therapy. We are looking forward to a new cancer hospital where all the cancer treatments will be done under one umbrella,” Dr Mohamed Salem al-Hassan, CEO and Medical Director of the National Center for Cancer Care and Research (NCCCR), said. The NCCCR has a team of experts in all aspects of cancer care, including medical oncology, surgical oncology, radiation oncology, and palliative care.In an interview with Gulf Times, Dr al-Hassan said: "Cancer is a growing problem in Qatar, as it is in many other parts of the world. In 2022, there were an estimated 1,300 new cases of cancer diagnosed in Qatar. Out of these, approximately 800 patients required ongoing treatments such as chemotherapy and radiotherapy. The NCCCR has the most up-to-date treatments and therapies available. We are committed to providing our patients with the best possible care, and we are constantly working to improve our services. Our experts are constantly monitoring the latest developments in cancer treatment. We also have a strong research programme that is developing new and innovative treatments.” Dr al-Hassan said: "Since 2020 we improved the radio therapy department to state-of-the-art and we are proud to have one of the best departments in the world including the most recent equipment. For instance, in the radiation oncology department, we have installed ETHOS solution, a revolutionary approach that adjusts the radiation treatment plan based on changes in the tumor and surrounding tissues. This personalized approach enhances treatment efficacy while minimizing side effects, and setting a new standard in cancer care (lung cancer).”We increased the inpatient bed capacity substantially from 70 to 82 , the day care and short stay for cancer patients grew from 16 to 52 comfortable beds. We increased the number of clinics. We now approve appointments within two to three days. We treat all types of cancer patients, adults and children with radio therapy, but children who receive chemotherapy are treated at Sidra Hospital. We are planning to create an up-to-date bone marrow transplant unit for treating up to 40 patients a year. We also increased the number of research, and different types of treatment of cancer. We collaborate with a number of centres in the world, the Royal Marsden in England, Mount Sinai Hospital in New York, as well as many other centres in US and Europe. We increased the number of conferences and public awareness campaigns. We recently published a quarterly magazine "News and Views” in Arabic and English to educate the public about the treatment, and we provide patients with bulletins to raise the awareness about the disease and its treatment.”Dr al-Hassan highlighted : "We set up a centre of chemotherapy production, it is called the Big Lab; we are producing our chemotherapy, and it was opened recently , some three weeks ago. It is producing a more pure chemotherapy for the patient, quality and quantity wise. Our capacity has risen from 100 to 200 chemotherapy per day. In the radiation therapy department, in 2023 we replaced the radiation therapy device with a Truebeam system, which provides an enhancement in localized treatment equipment through Brachytherapy, and the installation of the ETHOS system for adaptive radiotherapy using artificial intelligence (AI)."To develop completely new treatment plans that suit the changing needs of patients, adaptive radiotherapy is customised using AI on a daily basis; to compensate for changes in the patient, and improve the ability to target the cancer, which leads to increased therapeutic effectiveness.”He said the new unit provides doctors with important information by tracking daily changes in the patient’s condition, suggesting improvements to be applied in the treatment process, adapting the distribution of radiation doses, and focusing on the area targeted for treatment, thus enabling doctors to provide appropriate treatment to ensure the quality of therapeutic results and reduce the chances of patients being exposed for drug poisoning.Dr al-Hassan indicated that the new system enabled doctors and specialists to conduct more targeted radiation therapy, and thus to increase the therapeutic effectiveness of certain types of cancerous tumors. He said: "The new technology used in the unit is considered a promising treatment method for patients, and adds a lot to the therapeutic capabilities. These are the achievements we have made so far.”Dr al-Hassan stressed that the "NCCCR remains devoted to research and development, with several research studies conducted by our scientists published in leading scientific journals in 2023". He said: "Our dedication is a testament to providing the best care for cancer patients in Qatar, aligning with our vision and fostering continuous progress in cancer treatment and patient recovery. This is of course in accordance with the Qatar Cancer Plan 2023–2026 which was developed in collaboration with key stakeholders in Qatar and with the support of World Health Organization experts.”Dr Mohamed Salem al-Hassan is a fellow of the Royal College of Surgeons of Ireland. He was formerly managing director of Hamad Medical Corporation (HMC), chairman of surgery, chairman of emergency department, chairman of medical abroad, and director of medical education.