Hope 2012

hope Winter 2012

A Newsletter for the Friends of Shaukat Khanum Memorial Cancer Hospital and Research Centre

Cancer can be cured, but not without your support.

Together, let’s make a pledge to donate Rs. 5 every day to Shaukat Khanum Memorial Cancer Hospital and Research Centre and help save lives because cancer is curable.

FROM THE FRONT COVER

Make a Pledge on World Cancer Day

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very year, on February 4th, people from all across the globe unite on World Cancer Day to express their solidarity in the fight against cancer. For us at SKMCH&RC, fighting cancer is a daily battle.

The World Health Organization claims that cancer is the leading cause of death worldwide, with nearly 7.6 million deaths in 2008. Seventy-two per cent of these deaths took place in low- and middle-income countries. But not all of it is bad news. According to the Union for International Cancer Control of which SKMCH&RC is a member, between 30 and 40 per cent of cancers can be prevented and close to one-third of cancers can be cured through early diagnosis and treatment.

By 2010, our Hospital had seen over 46,000 malignant tumours with breast cancer, leukaemia, and lip and oral cavity cancer as the top three types of cancer, all of which rely on early detection. Together, on World Cancer Day, let’s make a pledge to DONATE RS. 5 EVERY DAY TO SKMCH&RC and help save precious lives because cancer is curable.

Cancer Survivor Series: Hadeed

sense that was far from what was actually taking place. His father and I brought him to Shaukat Khanum Memorial Cancer Hospital and Research Centre (SKMCH&RC).

Here, we were told that he had a type of kidney cancer, a Wilms’ tumour. But the news got worse; the cancer had spread to his stomach.

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he Oxford Dictionary defines the word parent as a person’s father or mother. But for us, the definition of “parent” in this dictionary is incomplete because we changed our entire life for Hadeed, our one and only child.

Hadeed was nearly four, living with us in Renala Khurd, a small town in the district of Okara in Punjab, when the vomiting and stomach pain first started. Doctors told us that he had probably hurt himself while playing outside but I could

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HOPE WINTER 2012

Committed to cure him, we made the move to Lahore. My husband left behind his own mobile phone shop and took a job working at one instead. He was away from us often till midnight, only to counter the expenses, while I watched Hadeed endure his treatment, witnessing both his best and worst moments.

SKMCH&RC was able to provide us with full financial support.

One kidney was removed and then, a round of chemotherapy followed.

My child bared it all patiently. The anger towards his enemy, the cancer he had to beat, became a driving force. At the chemo bay, it was all business, no sweet talk; Hadeed just wanted the nurses to

finish his chemo. We bought him a PSP gaming console, to distract him, and enrolled him in computer classes to help Hadeed conserve his energy. After 16 sessions of chemotherapy, we were told that Hadeed was clear of cancer.

However, our joy was shortlived and three months later, Hadeed relapsed and this time the cancer returned to another part of his body.

Disheartened, we refused to have our child go through chemotherapy again. Dr. Ata Ur Rehman Maaz, Hadeed’s oncologist, asked us to meet with a therapist, which gave my husband and I the strength to continue the fight. Finally, after another round of chemotherapy, Hadeed beat cancer in March 2011.

Today, Hadeed studies in Class One and he is boss of our house – he decides what I will cook for dinner, how we will spend the day with him, and even, what clothes my husband and I can wear! When he grows up, my Hadeed wants to become a doctor just like Dr. Maaz.

SHAUKAT KHANUM MEMORIAL CANCER HOSPITAL AND RESEARCH CENTRE

FEATURE STORY

The Pathology Lab and Collection Centres: An Inside Look

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ue to an increase in the number of patients and the costs associated with treating them for free, Shaukat Khanum Memorial Cancer Hospital and Research Centre (SKMCH&RC) realised that it could not rely on donations alone to treat its cancer patients and the idea to expand its service offerings was born. Today, these services – the diagnostic centres and laboratory collection centres – generate nearly 50 per cent of the Hospital’s revenue.

The first laboratory collection centre opened its doors in Lahore in 2000.

In 2011 alone, the network of collection centres increased by about 21 per cent, inducting 13 more locations, to over 80 locations across Pakistan. By pursuing an aggressive expansion strategy, this number is expected to increase significantly in 2012.

Running a pathology lab with corresponding collection centres is not a simple task. Quality and hygiene control measures must take place every second till results have been obtained from a sample.

Such control measures include from simply using disposable

SPECIAL VISITORS

Pakistan’s No. 1 tennis star, Aisam-ul-Haq Qureshi, and his wife distribute gifts to children during a visit to Shaukat Khanum Memorial Cancer Hospital and Research Centre in Lahore in December 2011.

gloves and alcohol swabs to hightech processes such as the use of a centrifuge machine, which separates the serum in the blood from the plasma.

From the collection centres to the Pathology Lab in Lahore, the samples must remain kept at temperatures between 2°C and 8°C, or 18°C and 22°C in some cases. For this reason, the samples are packed and transported in special coolers, in which a set number of ice packs keep the blood sample at the required temperature while thermometers track any fluctuations that may have affected the test sample. In addition, the cooler itself is inspected for physical damage upon its arrival. All these steps ensure that each customer gets the most accurate results within the specified reporting time.

Monitoring the proficiency of the results is the College of American Pathologists (CAP), which sends an anonymous sample three to four times a year to our Pathology Lab for testing, in which our Pathology staff boasts of 100 per cent accurate results every year since we joined the CAP programme.

NOW DONATE ONLINE, LEARN MORE AT: www.shaukatkhanum.org.pk

With manpower of over 250 in the Lab in Lahore and between 3 to 12 staff at each collection centre, our Pathology Department, recognised by the College of Physicians and Surgeons, Pakistan, for training in anatomical pathology and haemotology, is constantly educating and re-educating our staff in new and improved tests and techniques to make sure our accuracy and quality stays intact.

Each collection centre also has access to our main Hospital Information System, created in house by the SKMCH&RC Management Information Systems department. From the minute a sample is collected, its details are recorded in a database and tracked from the collection centre to the Lab when it arrives for testing. This database also allows customers to access reports online aside from receiving them in print.

Today, the SKMCH&RC Pathology Lab performs over 350,000 tests every month with a menu of over 350 types of tests, and adding more each year; about 65 per cent of samples originate from the various laboratory collection centres.

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HOSPITAL EVENTS

The Hospital Turns Seventeen

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embers of the Shaukat Khanum Memorial Trust Tigers’ Club celebrated Shaukat Khanum Memorial Cancer Hospital and Research Centre’s 17 years of treating cancer patients in Pakistan by participating in the Annual Birthday Card Competition.

Nearly 1,100 cards were shortlisted from over 5,000 entries in the competition from 126 schools nationwide. The competition winners were announced at the SKMCH&RC Birthday Celebration events held in Lahore, Karachi and Islamabad. A cheque for Rs. 3 million was also donated by Lt. Col (Retd.) Razaullah Tariq Asmie in memory of his late aunt Mrs. Rafia Waheed at the event in Karachi.

A Decade of Symposium Success

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aking the right choices, a phrase that oncologists think about every day when treating cancer patients, was the theme behind SKMCH&RC’s 10th Cancer Symposium at the Pearl Continental Hotel in Lahore between November 18-20, 2011.

Over 1,500 participants were in attendance at the conference with over 100 lecturers from Pakistan and across the world, representing Canada, Denmark, Germany, Egypt, Iran, Jordan, Oman, Saudi Arabia, Singapore, South Africa,

United Arab Emirates, United Kingdom, and the United States.

The topics covered ranged from all specialities within oncology to palliative care and advancements in nursing, as well as sessions on writing research papers.

At the opening ceremony, Dr. Faisal Sultan, CEO, SKMCH&RC, acknowledged the growth of the symposium over the years and announced that from 2012 onwards, the SKMCH&RC Cancer Symposium will become an annual event.

Published by the Marketing and Resource Development Department Shaukat Khanum Memorial Cancer Hospital and Research Centre 7A Block R-3, Johar Town, Lahore, Pakistan Telephone: +92 42 3590 5000 Ext 7004 | Fax: +92 42 3594 5208 Email: marketing@skm.org.pk | Web: www.shaukatkhanum.org.pk © 2012 Shaukat Khanum Memorial Cancer Hospital and Research Centre. All rights reserved.

No part of this newsletter may be used in any form without prior written approval from the Marketing and Resource Development Department.

Please deposit your zakat or donations at any of our local or overseas offices:

LAHORE

Shaukat Khanum Memorial Cancer Hospital and Research Centre Marketing and Resource Development 7A Block R-3, Johar Town Lahore, Pakistan Tel: +92 42 3594 5100 Ext. 2404 Fax: +92 42 3594 5208 UAN: 111 155 555 Email: marketing@skm.org.pk

ISLAMABAD

Shaukat Khanum Memorial Trust 2 Royal Centre 106 West Fazal-e-Haq Road, Blue Area Islamabad, Pakistan Tel: +92 51 227 3400 Fax: +92 51 227 4049; UAN: 111 155 555 Email: skmtislamabad@skm.org.pk

KARACHI

Shaukat Khanum Memorial Trust Suite 10, Mezzanine Floor Hamilon Courts, Main Clifton Road Karachi, Pakistan Tel: +92 21 3587 2573 Fax: +92 21 3587 2574; UAN: 111 155 555 Email: skmtkarachi@skm.org.pk

GULF

Shaukat Khanum Memorial Trust P.O. Box 506032 International Humanitarian City Dubai, United Arab Emirates Mobile: +971 50 102 1697 Email: skmtgulf@skm.org.pk

UNITED KINGDOM

Imran Khan Cancer Appeal P.O. Box 786 Bradford, BD5 0YE, UK Tel: +44 12 7442 4444 Free Phone: 0500 786 101 Email: info@ikca.co.uk

UNITED STATES OF AMERICA

Imran Khan Cancer Appeal Inc. 195 Farmington Avenue, Suite 201 Farmington, CT 06032, USA Tel: +1 860 674 8865 Fax: +1 860 674 9007 Email:shkm2@sbcglobal.net

CANCER IS CURABLE

5 RUPEES A DAY CAN SAVE SOMEONE’S LIFE