FoCP forms first cancer-support group in UAE

Friends of Cancer Patients Charitable Society's (FoCP) Cancer advocacy in the U.A.E. is taking new shape with the Friends of Cancer Patients Charitable Society's (FoCP) formation of a Chronic Myloid Leukaemia (CML) Support Group in the Emirates. The newly-constituted support group met for the first time on Saturday to engage with the U.A.E. community at large, comprising patients, their families and the medical fraternity, as well as NGOs, to spell out its objectives.
Besides highlighting the need to raise awareness about this particular type of Leukaemia, the meeting sought to stress that CML is chronic, and not terminal - a categorisation, it said, which is harming the interests of CML patients.
"We want to increase awareness about CML so that patients can receive maximum support from all quarters. CML patients are not terminally ill, and with proper medication, can lead full lives., said Dr. Sawsan Al Madhi, Secretary-General for the Friends of Cancer Patients Charitable Society (FoCP).
"According to hospital records in the U.A.E., the incidence of new cases is almost 25-30 patients per year. It is high time that Chronic Myloid Leukaemia patients had access to an effective support system which would spread awareness and address problems pertaining to treatment. The community needs to be made aware about issues such as testing for the disease at an earlier stage and recognising the symptoms associated with CML. We want to highlight that CML patients have a good chance - with proper medical care - to overcome the challenges and lead full lives and in turn give back to the community by way of professional and personal excellence. I am sure better awareness would lead to NGOs being more proactive in addressing the needs of CML patients," Dr. Al Madhi added.
The meeting aimed to create awareness around the fact that in reality, Chronic Myloid Leukaemia is far from terminal, and that CML patients can lead almost normal and productive lives. The misconception usually leads to financially disadvantaged patients not receiving the required support to afford the expensive medication required for treatment.
Source: WAM