The 9ème Congrès d’Oncologie Francophone (COF), the 6th Lebanese Gynecologic Oncologic Group Meeting (LGOG) and the 3rd Memago Congress, three congresses in one, hosted a conference at Hilton Habtoor Grand Hotel, Sin El Fil, bringing together, in a joint effort, physicians, associations and federations, to a platform of knowledge exchange and discussions, to deliberate on cancer the world’s most constant problematic.
When opening the ceremony Professor Georges Chahine, President of the Congress said: “Science is nothing when hidden in the shadow; by communicating it the spirit multiplies it – Edward Young 1742”
“We are gathered here today, under the banner of science, to confront cancer that continues its havoc causing high rates of mortalities. We came to look further into new technologies, surgical techniques and latest findings in the quest of reducing the cancer burden” he said.
He added: « The global incidence of cancer rose to an estimated 14.1 million new cases in 2012, a figure expected to rise to 19.3 million by 2025 according to the world Cancer Report. But also, 32.6 million are surviving 5 years post diagnostic cancer, of which 48% live in developing countries, which proves excellent rate of responsiveness and constant improvement. This is due to further research and early detection”.
The yearlyevent was attended by around 500 health professionals,including specialized physicians from Turkey, Egypt, Jordan, UAE, KSA and Kuwait, junior doctors, nurses, students and others, over two days, and comprised Pathologists workshops, Video screening sessions of the latest Onco-Gynecology chirurgic techniques and Courses for nurses, and young Oncologists Forum elaborating on recent Onco/Hématology topics, in addition to latest results. International and local experts also presented discussions over the most frequently encountered types of cancer (breast, ovaries, cervix, uterus, bladder, kidney, prostate, stomach).
In its 9th edition, COF has broadened its horizons once again and invited various associations and organisations to take part in this platform:
-The Lebanese Society of Obsterics and Gynecology (LSOG, LGOG)
-The Gynéco-ObstétriqueArab Fédération (FAGOS),
-The Lebanese Urology Society (LUE),
-The French Association of Urology (AFU),
-La Lebanese Society for Pathology (LSP),
-The Lebanese Society of Gastroenterology (LSG)
-The Middle East and Mediterranean Association for Onco-Gynecology( MEMAGO)
It is worth mentioning that the conference has been endorsed by many local and international professional medical associations. The endorsement is a sign of the importance of the conference, especially with the alarming cancer rates that are set to rise dramatically, as it became the second leading cause of death worldwide and turned out to be the eternal threat to world’s public health as it was responsible for 8.8 million deaths in 2015.
