The Naef K.
Basile Cancer Institute (NKBCI) at AUBMC has received
a benevolent donation of $135,000from the Lebanese Breast Cancer
Foundation (LBCF) in a ceremony held at AUBMC on April 8, 2015. The donation is usedto
cover treatment expenses of breast cancer patients treated at AUBMC’s Breast
Center of Excellence at NKBCI.The LBCF has also been helping patients with
installments and copaymentsfor health services received at AUBMC, and hasorganized
several fundraising and awareness campaigns throughout the country. The
ceremony was attended by members of AUBMC and LBCF leadership includingDeputy
VP/Dean Dr. Ziyad Ghazzal, Chief of Staff and Director of the NKBCI and
Children’s Cancer Center of Lebanon (CCCL), Dr. Hassan El Solh, Dr. Nagi El
Saghir, Director Breast Center of Excellence and President of the Lebanese
Breast Cancer Foundation and Vice President of LBCF Mrs. Mirna Hoballah.
Breast
cancer is a major health issue in Lebanon and the Middle East with a staggering
1,700 new cases diagnosed every year in Lebanon alone. The collaboration
between LBCF and NKBCI has been
leading the way in advancing cancer therapy with ground-breaking research,
continuing medical education for physicians and health care providers, and
raising awareness within the Lebanese community.
Professor Nagi El Saghir, MD, FACP indicated thatcure rates,
based on the latest study recently published at AUBMC, have become very high in
Lebanon; more than 90% of patients diagnosed with early stage breast cancer (Stage
1 and 2) are alive and well after five to 10 years.“Raising awareness about
breast cancer in Lebanon, promoting screening and early detection, helps
patients who are diagnosed with breast cancer go through the journey of
diagnosis, surgery, chemotherapy, and hormonal therapy positively,” said Dr.
Saghir. He acknowledged all donors, volunteers breast cancer survivors and
friends for organizing awareness campaigns and fundraising events throughout
Lebanon and in Abu Dhabi.
Dr. Hassan El
Solh, AUBMC chief of staff and director of the NKBCI and CCCL, who spoke on
behalf of Dr. Mohamed H. Sayegh, the Raja N. Khuri Dean of the Faculty of
Medicine, expressed his gratitude and appreciation for the efforts exerted by
the LBCF. Dr. Solh explained,“Such collaboration is a role model for other
charity organizations to follow in a way that we, AUBMC and LBCF, work together
as a team.” He added, “AUBMC will be expanding the diagnostic and therapeutic
facilities and developing research programs for prevention and control of
cancer in general, and including breast cancer, to establish Centers of
Excellence, in line with the AUBMC 2020 Vision.”
On behalf of
AUBMC, Dr. Solhthanked the LBCF for the donation acknowledging the work of all
parties to deliver better care to patients with breast cancer.
