Cancer in the Arab World

This is an Open Access book. This book is a must-have for healthcare providers and researchers, public health specialists and policy makers who are interested and involved in cancer care in the Arab world. The Arab world consists of 22 countries, which are members of the Arab League and spanning over 13,132,327 km² with over 423,000,000 population.  

Over the past few decades, the Arab world has witnessed a swift evolution in healthcare provision. Nonetheless, Arab countries have considerable variability in economic capabilities, resource allocation, and intellectual talent that inevitably reflect on access to modern cancer care and prevention. This book is authored by experts from the Arab world who provide vital information on cancer statistics and risk factors, available clinical care pathways and infrastructure, and prevention programs in their individual countries. The chapters also address specific challenges in each country and insights into future directions to achieve optimal care with conventional and novel diagnostics and therapies to keep up with the era of precision medicine. 

Special topics of interest and unique to the Arab world are also discussed, such as out of the country’s medical tourism for cancer care and cancer care during war and conflict.

Other special chapters include: Cancer research in the Arab world, Radiation therapy in Arab World and Pediatric Oncology in the Arab World

Cancer in the Arab World is the first comprehensive book that addresses cancer care in depth in all Arab countries and it is endorsed by the prestigious Emirates Oncology Society.

Dr. Abu-Gheida is founding head of department of radiation oncology in Burjeel Medical City and an adjunct assistant professor in the United Arab Emirates University. Dr. Abu-Gheida Radiation completed his undergraduate training where he earned a Bachelor of Science with honors degree from the American University of Beirut. Following which Dr. Abu-Gheida completed his Medical School training at the American University of Beirut Medical Center. He continued and joined the Department of Internal Medicine at the American University of Beirut. Then did his training in the Department of Radiation Oncology at the American University of Beirut Medical Center, where he served also as the chief resident. During his Training, Dr. Abu-Gheida completed a Harvard-affiliated NIH-funded research program as well. After his residency, Dr. Ibrahim went to Cleveland Clinic / Ohio, where he was appointed as an Advanced Clinical Radiation Oncology Fellow. Dr. Abu-Gheida went and joined the University of Texas MD Anderson Cancer Center. Dr. Abu-Gheida has many publications in prestigious medical journal including the American Society of Radiation Oncology official journal - International Journal of Radiation Oncology Biology and Physics, Nature, Journal of Clinical Oncology, and several others. He is also the primary author of several book chapters published in prestigious books. He also have been granted research awards during his residency.

Ms. Faryal Iqbal holds an undergraduate degree in Molecular Biology & Biotechnology. Subsequently, she earned postgraduate qualification in Molecular Genetics from Pakistan, where she worked on finding the association between XRCC1 gene polymorphism and radiation exposure in healthcare workers. She is currently working with an oncology specific research group and serving in the domains of scientific writing, data management, supervision of medical internees, and providing editorial assistance. Ms. Iqbal’s research interests and publications encompass genetics and oncology. She intends to support research across the oncology key areas including prevention, diagnosis, and treatment. Her focus is on preparing for future adoption of genomic technology and increased use of genomic information as part of the cancer diagnostic and therapeutic pathways.

Aydah Al-Awadhi is a consultant medical oncologist, graduated medical school from the United Arab Emirates University in 2012, then completed her internal medicine residency in the United States and completed her Medical Oncology and Hematology fellowship from the University of Texas, MD Anderson Cancer Center in 2019 and is American Board Certified in Hematology and Medical Oncology. She was awarded the Emirates Oncology Society (EOS) Member of the Year award, 2021. Dr. Al-Awadhi has published many articles and book chapters on breast cancer and oncology.