Overview

The fifth annual Combined Gulf Cancer Conference in 2022, hosted by the FOCP in Sharjah in collaboration with the Gulf Federation for Cancer Control and the Gulf Centre for Cancer Control and Prevention, brought together over 50 international speakers and 500 delegates, including scientists, researchers, cancer prevention advocates, and representatives of leading cancer non-profit organizations in the region. The conference focused on analyzing the current state of cancer care in the region and discussing best practices to improve the standard of care across the cancer control continuum. It also addressed the potential for creating medical frameworks to improve access to healthcare and facilities for cancer patients during treatment and beyond. Apart from being a networking platform for global cancer experts, the conference also featured interactive panel discussions and presentations by young scientists who presented their research abstracts and hypotheses.

The conference featured six tracks with a variety of panel sessions, dialogues, and keynote speeches. The discussions addressed long-term issues in the sector, such as cultural and socioeconomic barriers to cancer awareness and prevention, as well as the importance of early detection and screening in cancer care and control. The conference also focused on current issues such as the use of social media and mobile health technology for health promotion and behavior change, the influence of media on behavior, how to build better by learning from the COVID-19 pandemic, and the impact of advanced technology and innovation on cancer screening programs in the region.