Aster Hospitals Launch Cancer Support Group in UAE on World Cancer Day

Launch on 4th February 2022 in sync with the WHO `Close the Care Gap’ theme to ensure cancer care access for all

Dubai, February 8, 2022:  Aster Hospitals UAE, a world-class facility under Aster DM Healthcare, a leading healthcare provider in the Middle East and India, launched a cancer support group coinciding with the World Cancer Day on February 4, observed every year.

Under a broad theme of `WE PLEDGE TO CONQUER CANCER,’ the support group was unveiled at an event coined Aster Conquerors, to celebrate the grit and determination of cancer survivors in the UAE from different nationalities of India, the Philippines, Pakistan, Bangladesh and Sri Lanka.

Ms. Alisha Moopen, Deputy Managing Director, Aster DM Healthcare, said: “In today’s world, most of us know of someone close, a loved one who had to stand up to the challenges posed by cancer and it is a journey which requires a strong support system comprising of one’s family, friends, doctors and caregivers who can stand together to overcome the challenges. Through the cancer support group, we at Aster are trying to close the essential gap in the support system and ensure that our patients have the right people to lean on, share their journey with and seek the needed support to fight cancer.”

“Over the years, we have continued to meet significant milestones in healthcare and the cancer support group is yet another value addition to our treatment and patient care services under our oncology facilities offered at Aster comprehensive cancer care centre. The group will enhance our focus on delivering comprehensive cancer care with utmost empathy as a leading tertiary healthcare centre,” said Dr. Sherbaz Bichu, CEO – Aster Hospitals & Clinics UAE. 

Aster Hospitals had also opened a state-of-the-art Department of Oncology at Aster Hospital Al Qusais, Dubai last year. The cancer support group is launched under the broader patient support entity, Aster Cosmos. 

“This World Cancer Day, we are also taking a pledge to be in sync with the WHO theme `Close the Care Gap,’ which emphasizes that everyone deserves access to cancer care. Frontier treatment procedures do make a huge difference in treating cancer, although each patient fights his or her own battle,” said Dr. Sivaprakash Rathanaswamy, Consultant Surgical Oncologist at Aster Hospitals, UAE. 

The cancer fighters and survivors, who attended the event, took pledge to conquer cancer and registered themselves in the Support Group ASTER COSMOS.  

“Aster Hospitals UAE treats a wide variety of cancers across breast, gynaecology, gastrointestinal, hepatobiliary pancreatic and head and neck cancers to soft tissue sarcomas, genitourinary cancers with minimal access surgery and chemotherapy, followed by support and palliative care,” said Dr. Pranay Taori, Specialist Medical Oncologist. 

Dr Sivaprakash added, "In the last six months alone, the hospital conducted almost 150 cancer surgeries and approximately 500 sessions of chemotherapy, with good clinical outcome. We are bringing a human touch to the treatment bringing a world of difference.” 

According to Dr. Pranay, early detection of cancers is highly important for ensuring the best result in treatment. “Many of cancers require surgical intervention, which needs to be done at an early stage to save patients’ life from progression of the disease. The need is to bring the technological advances and generate awareness about the better and cost-effective treatment options available.” 

The oncology centre of Aster Hospitals offers highly specialized, advanced cancer care therapies to patients with focus on multidisciplinary treatment planning. The centre had also introduced a `Tumour Board (TB),’ during its launch as an integral component of the advanced treatment planning approach in cancer care. The TB is a Multidisciplinary Team (MDT) meeting in which different specialists work together closely sharing clinical decisions in cancer care. 

The centre offers all kinds of treatments, ranging from complex surgeries, hormonal to immunotherapy, targeted therapy, as well as chemotherapy provided by the best-in-class available clinical expertise and medical technologies along with personalized care catering to the growing needs of patients.