to mark World Cancer Research Day and Childhood Cancer Awareness Month, Sidra Medicine, a member of Qatar Foundation, has published its ‘Pediatric Oncology Report 2023.’ This year’s report presents information on the treatment modalities employed at Sidra Medicine and the remarkable outcomes achieved for its young patients. It also takes a deeper dive by exploring the specifics of leukemia and brain tumors, going beyond the previous reporting of solid and non-solid cancers statistics.
The report offers an analysis of pediatric cancer types treated at the hospital, with a clear distinction between solid cancers (69 percent) and non-solid cancers (31 percent).
Regarding patient demographics, the majority are of Arab descent (60 percent), followed by Asian patients (32 percent). The remaining less than 10 percent represent other ethnicities.
Among the diagnoses, Leukemia emerges as the most frequent at 31 percent, closely followed by Central Nervous System malignancies at 23 percent.
Division Chief of Hemat
ology and Oncology at Sidra Medicine Dr. Ayman Saleh said: “This report is more than just data. It is a roadmap that helps us navigate the epidemiology of childhood cancer in Qatar. By understanding the types of cancers affecting our children, the effectiveness of our treatments, and the ongoing research advancements, we can work together to provide the best possible outcomes. Our impressive survival rate of almost 90 percent between 2019 and 2023 surpasses those of many developed nations, serving as a testament to the robustness of Qatar’s healthcare system in treating different types of childhood cancers.” Since launching its pediatric precision oncology initiative in 2018, treatment abroad has gone down from 20 percent in 2019 to only 11 percent in 2023.
Sidra Medicine’s commitment to pediatric cancer care is highlighted by the upcoming launch of Qatar’s first pediatric Hematopoietic Stem Cell Transplant (HSCT) program. This initiative, in partnership with Children’s Hospital of Philadelphia, will provide
life-saving treatment for children with cancer by replacing diseased bone marrow cells with their own healthy stem cells, or that of a donor.
Source: Qatar News Agency