► World Hematology Month is a golden opportunity to raise awareness of the importance of medical examinations
► Investing in the treatment of hematological patients benefits the economy of countries
The month of September of each year is the international month for awareness of hematomas, and therefore it is a golden opportunity to spread societal awareness of these invisible tumors, and to highlight the importance of the necessary medical examinations and accurate diagnosis of them, as the incidence of blood tumors represents 10% of the incidence of all types of cancer worldwide. Therefore, Janssen Egypt, the pharmaceutical branch of Johnson & Johnson International, which is a leading company in the field of advanced treatments for cancer and blood tumors, has intensified its continuous awareness efforts in these diseases under the name “See what is not cured.”“.
To show us the great importance of raising societal awareness of blood tumors and their symptoms, we have to know that a large percentage of patients discover that they have hematomas by chance, and in late stages, the symptoms of blood tumors are many and different, but they appear by examining the blood picture, and a large percentage is discovered as a result of an enlarged spleen or swollen lymph nodes. There is also a percentage of patients suffering from chronic anemia, a deficiency of platelets, or weak immunity, where the symptoms associated with blood tumors are multiple and numerous. There is also a group of patients whose disease appears in the form of a high temperature, especially in the evening, accompanied by sweating or a feeling of stress or weakness. Therefore, unlike solid cancers, blood tumors are not detected early, and therefore this campaign seeks to shed light on the simple initial symptoms to help Patients to early detection of the disease.
Ibtisam Saad Eddin
In this context, Prof. Dr. Ibtisam Saad El-Din, Professor of Oncology and Hematology – Faculty of Medicine, Cairo University, said, blood tumors include a large group of different tumors, such as acute tumors, chronic lymphomas and multiple myeloma according to the original cell type, and each type affects a different stage of life. Acute lymphomas affect children and young adults, while chronic blood tumors are in the older age group, and the characteristics or genetic map plays a major role in determining the appropriate treatment, which may differ from one patient to another – even in patients with the same tumor. –
She also added that the recent period has witnessed a major boom in the treatment of hematological tumors by discovering a large group of modern drugs that accurately determine the optimal treatment for the patient according to his genetic map, which led to a significant improvement in the rates of disease control, which helped the patient to practice his work and daily activities without suffering from The severe side effects of chemotherapy and traditional methods, as many modern treatments come in the form of tablets, and therefore the patient will not need to go to the hospital for treatment.
In general, the most important advice for the patient is to go to the doctor in case he feels symptoms that did not exist before, such as rapid fatigue, two approaches, unexplained weight loss, or a persistent rise in temperature, because the earlier the diagnosis is made, the greater the chance of controlling the disease, God willing..
Mohammed Al-Azzazi
For his part, Prof. Dr. Mohamed Othman Azazi El-Messiri, Head of the Department of Hematology and Marrow Transplantation, Faculty of Medicine, Ain Shams University, explained that chronic lymphocytic leukemia is a genetic defect that leads to changes in cell growth at a certain level, which leads to the overproduction of this cell, and is accompanied by Many symptoms, on top of which are some enlargements in the lymph nodes and spleen, broken blood, anemia, and often this disease passes and is discovered by chance in the elderly when doing some analyzes such as a blood picture or discovered before surgical interventions, and there is no doubt that progress in The understanding of chronic lymphocytic leukemia represents a major breakthrough, as the doctor can do a genetic analysis, or the so-called loss of the 17th gene, and this has a significant impact in determining the type of treatment. In addition to the appropriate method of treating the patient, which was reflected in a decrease in the number of deaths among patients, and in fact, the role of health care in providing the latest treatments must be not only a priority of the state, but extends to all workers in the medical sector. Private health care, medical institutions, health insurance, etc., which should be seen as an investment that benefits the economy of countries, as it is positively reflected not only in terms of material savings, but is reflected in the development of services and the improvement of success rates and speed of drug treatment. The accompanying health care Medical advances improve the quality of life of patients, help them control disease and improve their productivity.
Azazi pointed out that Janssen Egypt, the pharmaceutical branch of Johnson & Johnson International, as a pioneer in the field of cancer treatments and blood diseases, sponsors the analysis of lymphocytic leukemia free of charge due to its high cost, which is reflected in reducing the financial burden not only on patients but also on the state..
Ashraf Al-Ghandour
In a related context, Prof. Dr. Ashraf El-Ghandour, Professor of Hematology, Faculty of Medicine, Alexandria, added that multiple myeloma is a mutation and an increase in the production of plasma cells in the bone marrow, which in most cases results in the production of protein in the blood, and may lead to many symptoms in A case of delayed diagnosis such as erosion in the bones, especially the pelvic area and the vertebrae, and may also lead to kidney injury and increase its functions and the occurrence of severe anemia, the earlier the diagnosis of the disease, the less its complications. Early diagnosis for the specialist. Early diagnosis gives the patient the opportunity to live a normal life without affecting his lifestyle. Multiple myeloma appeared in the early nineties and until 2005 there was only chemotherapy, but the treatment developed a lot. other cells, which increased the efficiency of response to treatment, which is one of the latest discoveries of science.
Ramez Mohsen
For his part, Dr. Ramez Mohsen, CEO of Janssen Pharmaceuticals for Egypt, North East Africa and Jordan – one of Johnson & Johnson’s international companies – one of the leading companies in the field of cancer research and treatment and cancer blood diseases, said, “I feel very proud of the effective role that Janssen Egypt plays in raising Awareness of cancerous blood diseases, especially since blood diseases are of a special nature and require a lot of attention and awareness, so Janssen Egypt is keen to do its utmost to raise awareness and disseminate correct information through doctors who specialize in blood cancers and multiple blood diseases. A lot of human resources if they are not treated properly and for a sufficient period according to international protocols, and the company believes in the right of the Egyptian patient to receive the required health care, it sponsored an extended awareness campaign with the Egyptian Society for the Support of Blood Cancer Patients to spread awareness of multiple myeloma and how to live with it The great development in genetics is also a new cause for optimism, especially with the emergence of what is known as precision medicine and the presence of accurate pathological analyzes to diagnose children. Genetic studies in some patients that require a specific treatment appropriate for each specific case, and therefore drugs have become more accurate in controlling the disease, and this is an important development in modern treatments and allows treatment to bring better results due to the accuracy of disease monitoring.” He also praised the Egyptian state’s increased interest in the health of the Egyptian patient, and placed the health file at the top of its priorities, as it is a national wealth.
It is worth noting that the Egyptian Cancer Support Association has launched a specialized page on the Facebook network called “CanSurvive Multiple myelomaThis initiative is sponsored by Janssen Egypt, the pharmaceutical branch of Johnson & Johnson International, which is the number one healthcare company in the world.