The international community strives to strengthen research and laboratory efforts to defeat cancer, spread awareness, ways to prevent the disease, and correct misconceptions about it; as a result, Qatar University (QU) is home to a large number of scientists and researchers dedicated to the fight against cancer.
Few of the researchers at QU shared their point of view on cancer awareness.
Dr. Hesham M. Korashy, Professor of Pharmacology and Toxicology explained Exposure to environmental pollutants and cancer risk in which he said, “Although several risk factors and poor daily habits such as smoking, unhealthy food, stress, and genetics have been strongly linked to cancer development, these traditional risk factors alone cannot explain the rapidly increasing prevalence of cancer worldwide. Recently, other factors beyond these conventional risk factors have been explored, such as exposure to environmental pollutants and chemicals.
Uncontrolled industrialization is usually associated with emission of pollutants into the air, water, and soil, and consequently, people exposed to these pollutants unknowingly, continually, and chronically. The World Health Organization (WHO) has declared air pollution a major health problem that kills an estimated 7 million people worldwide. WHO data shows that 9 out of 10 people breathe air that exceeds the WHO guideline limits containing high levels of pollutions. Studies from both human and animal have supported the impact of exposure to environmental pollutant not only on cancer development, such as lung, breast, and bladder cancers, but also on poor cancer survival and deaths. Although the mechanisms remain unclear, several mechanistic studies have demonstrated the ability of these pollutants to bind covalently to cell DNA causing the formation of DNA adducts and subsequent tumor initiation. Further studies are needed aiming at providing ministry of public health and ministry of municipality and environment with effective intervention primary prevention strategies.”
Dr. Ziad Nasr, Assistant Professor of Clinical Pharmacy & Practice Department said, “As part of raising awareness about cancer, the College of Pharmacy at Qatar University holds several outreach campaigns and activities organized by the Qatar Pharmacy Undergraduate Society with the support of the college’s administration. Pharmacy students invite faculty members and other students within QU health where they distribute pamphlets that include useful information about cancer screening and prevention for attendees, distribute pink ribbons in support of survivors, fighters, and those taken, and sometimes invite motivational speakers to share live testimonials about their experience with cancer. Campaigns in previous years included breast cancer awareness and men’s health awareness (including prostate cancer). In addition, the College of Pharmacy has significant contribution to cancer research at the national, regional and international levels. Professors and scientists tend always to conduct high-quality applied research related but not limited to investigating novel treatment strategies to combat cancer, and improving cancer-related health outcomes.”
Dr. Stephanie Atweh, Teaching Assistant of Clinical Pharmacy and Practice at the College of Pharmacy (CPH) at Qatar University said, “It is a great opportunity with this year’s World Cancer Day 2022 to remind ourselves as a community of academics, students and health-care professionals about the importance of sharing the knowledge that we have, be it from resources or skills, to continue this fight against cancer on both a national and international scale. On February 4th, I had the chance to reflect on the efforts that CPH has spent this year, along with its student council known as ‘Qatar Pharmacy Undergraduate Society (QPhUS)’, on several occasions most importantly the breast cancer awareness campaign as well as the Blue November campaign. In October, we started sharing a video titled ‘Get Screened’ in order to encourage women to stay on track with their women’s health clinic visits in order to increase the chances of early breast cancer detection. The video was made available in both English and Arabic and reached up to 1200 views. We highlighted and emphasized the latest recommendations of the ministry of public health (MOPH) of the State of Qatar and other trusted governing bodies regarding breast cancer screening and presented them in an interactive manner. More than ten students and faculty participated in making this influential message possible and it was successfully and repeatedly shared all month-long on several social media platforms.
In addition, for Blue November, we held an ongoing campaign for three weeks in the main atrium of Ibn-al-Bitar building. As the name indicates, blue ribbons were beautifully decorating the stand and made it inviting for on-lookers to visit the booth and participate in the educational activities. The first station consisted of facts and studies regarding men’s cancers especially prostate cancer and testicular cancer with some relevant statistics. They also had the chance to ask questions and have discussions with pharmacy students that have studied these topics thoroughly. In the second station, the participants had a chance to leave an encouraging note to the men struggling with cancer or even cancer survivors. After having completed these stations, the participants were awarded a blue ribbon and had the chance to take a picture in our special movember photo booth frame. All in all, I am proud to say that we at CPH prioritize the impact that our students and faculty have in both the outreach and community engagement as well as the richness of the curriculum in covering all aspects of cancer in both the oncology and hematology domains. This is especially true when it comes to integrating the pathophysiology, pharmacology and pharmacotherapy of cancer. As always, I would like to encourage our readers, be it QU staff, faculty or students as well as the general public, to adopt a healthy lifestyle and seek life-changing habits such as consistent exercising that will help eliminate some risk factors associated with certain types of cancer. For more information and pictures, you can follow our social media accounts on Instagram and twitter @qu_health @cph_qu.”
Source: QATAR UNIVERSITY
