Indo-US CME on Paediatric Haemato-Oncology held in the City
from Divvy Kant Upadhyay
for Daijiworld Media Network - Mangalore (GA)
Mangalore, Nov 6: An Indo-US Continuing Medical Education programme on Paediatric Haemtology and Oncology was held at the Katurba Medical College hospital at Attavar Monday November 5.
The highlight of the CME was the presentation on recent advances in Childhood Lymphomas made by renowned Dr Sharon Murphy from the USA. Her research experience and interests are broadly related to clinical trials and translational research in pediatric cancer, with particular focus on the biology and therapy of childhood acute lymphoblastic leukemia (ALL) and lymphomas. She is particularly famous for having devised a staging system for non-Hodgkins lymphoma (NHL) that is used by clinicians and pathologists world-wide.
Dr Sharon Murphy is the inaugural director of the Children's Cancer Research Institute and a professor of paediatrics at the University of Texas Health Sciences Centre, San Antonio, Texas, USA. She has authored more than 230 original articles, chapters and reviews.
Dr Wan A Raffin, professor of paediatrics at the University of Kuala Lumpur in Malaysia gave a brief overview of childhood blood cancers in his country. Earlier in the day going around the wards, he was highly appreciative of the facilities and treatment given to children with blood cancer by Dr ATK Rau and his team at the KMC Hospital at Attavar.
Charismatic vice-chancellor of the Manipal Univeristy, Dr Raj Warrier who is himself a renowned paediatric Haemato-oncologist delivered a talk on clinical approach to Iron Deficiency Anemias which are commonly encountered in our country. He kept the highly academic session alive with his wit and humour apart from important practical tips for doctors from different medical colleges in the audience.
Head of the peadiatrics department at KMC, Dr Nutan Kamath stressed the need for sub-speciality services to fight curable blood cancers among children in this region. She informed that KMC was planning to start a post Doctoral Fellowship in this field.
KMC Dean Dr CV Raghuveer addressed the gathering and felicitated the guest speakers. Associate Dean Dr MV Prabhu and senior Radio-Oncologist Dr Dinesh Pai Kasturi were present at the CME.
The CME ended with the specialists hoping for a future where the Human immune system could be understood in better ways so as to treat blood cancers biologically rather than with expensive chemotherapy treatment which has many side effects. They also opined that developing countries like India should tackle the problem of children presenting to the hospitals at a very advanced stage of the disease. Treatment started with an early detection has very good cure rates they suggested.
Related Feature:
Mangalore: Conquering Leukemia - the Bane of Children