Not just with treatment... This is how the world is fighting cancer.

On World Cancer Day, experts urge prevention, early detection, and precision medicine as keys to reducing global cancer deaths.

On the occasion of World Cancer Day, February 4th of each year, and under this year’s slogan “United by our uniqueness”, Professor Hamid Al Shamsi, President of the Emirates Oncology Division, stressed that confronting cancer is no longer based on treatment alone, but rather depends on an integrated system that includes prevention, early detection, psychological and social support for the patient and his family, all the way to precision medicine.

Al Shamsi explained during his interview with Sky News Arabia that the global picture of cancer shows an urgent need to intensify efforts, pointing to the World Health Organization’s estimates for 2022, which recorded about 20 million new cases and 9.7 million deaths worldwide due to the disease, which makes prevention and early detection a global health priority.

He pointed out that a large part of the cancer burden is related to modifiable factors, such as smoking, weight gain, lack of physical activity, and unbalanced eating patterns, along with age-related and genetic factors and some viral infections, stressing that "prevention is not a slogan, but rather daily steps that begin with a healthy lifestyle and regular medical follow-up.

As for the latest treatments, he explained that recent years have witnessed a qualitative shift in the use of immunotherapy, targeted therapies, and precision medicine based on tumor characteristics, in addition to radiotherapy techniques and microsurgeries within multidisciplinary teams.

Al Shamsi said : "The most important message is that cancer today, in many of its forms, is controllable or curable, especially when detected early and a personalized treatment plan is followed that suits each patient."

Regarding the topic of early detection , he stressed the importance of utilizing updated scientific programs and guidelines.

Al Shamsi concluded by saying: “On World Cancer Day, let’s turn awareness into action: timely check-ups, a healthier lifestyle, and seeing a doctor for any unusual symptoms. Simple steps, but they could save a life.