18 ASIAN LITE HEALTH
NOV 15 - NOV 28 2017
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GALLERY
EARLY DETECTION OF BRAIN TUMOUR IN CHILDREN Leading oncologist Dr Zainul Aabideen explains the importance of early detection of brain tumour in children and the role of parents and primary care pediatricians in the treatment process. Dr Aabideen, a British trained oncologist, writes on the lessons to learn from the UK experiences
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rain tumours are the second most common cancers in children and account for a quarter of all childhood cancers after leukemia. They are the leading cause of cancer-related deaths in children. There have been multiple studies published in indexed medical journals that there is a delay in diagnosing brain tumours in children in many countries includes Europe, Australia and United States. Consequences of delay in diagnosing brain tumors are many. The most important is it can affect the treatment outcome. Delay in diagnosis escalates the anxiety and frustration of parents and treating physician. It has been proved that by improving awareness of both public and professionals, brain tumors in children can be detected early. This article summarise how improving awareness of parents and professionals cut short the delay in diagnosing brain tumour diagnosing in the UK. We recommend by extrapolating information from this experience we can also decrease the delay in diagnosing brain tumors in children in Asian countries. Challenges of diagnosing brain tumours are many. The most of the brain tumours appear with symptoms of common problems in the children like headache and vomiting. The study in 2006 revealed the median delay of diagnosing brain tumour in children was 3.3 months in the UK and many other Western countries. Both public and professionals expressed concerns about this. That has led to initiate a project by group of oncologists in the UK with help of charity organi-
sation to study the depth of the issue and to find a solution to this highly infuriating subject. They conducted detailed study to analyse the data published in several medical journals about early symptoms and signs of brain tumour in children. Evidence based guideline was developed and it was approved Royal College of Paediatric and Child Health in 2008 and NHS Evidence accreditation in 2011. They made symptoms and sign check list for the different age groups for the parents to look on their children of different age groups to suspect brain tumour very early. “The Head Smart be brain tumour aware” campaign was launched in 2011. The main objective of this campaign was to increase awareness among health professionals as well as public about early detection of brain tumour in children. As part of the project, they made awareness materials and symptoms card. They have distributed these materials through various community programs to educate public. They designed an open access decision support website (www.headsmart.org.uk). This website is made in such a way that both public and professionals can access and retrieve very useful ready made materials to display in public places and use in the clinic by general practitioner and pediatricians. They recruited community champions among local people. They are individuals and families all over the country who have volunteered to help to raise awareness in their local areas. All these have contributed enormously to increase awareness both public and professionals. Further analysis revealed that this campaign has led to a reduction in the total diagnostic interval, to 6.7 weeks in 2013, from 14 weeks in 2006 the pre campaign mean delay.
Symptom card from Headsmart Project 2011
DR. ZAINUL AABIDEEN BY ASIAN LITE NEWS
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r. Zainul Aabideen is a consultant in paediatric hematology and oncology. Having gained his medical degree at Calicut University in Kerala, India, followed by his Post Graduation in Paediatrics from the University of Mumbai, Dr. Aabideen transferred to the United Kingdom in 2001 to undertake further training. He is now one among the top most consultants in paediatric haematology and oncology at Burjeel Hospital, Abu Dhabi. In the UK, Dr. Aabideen obtained a Masters degree in Paediatric Oncology at Birmingham University, a Postgraduate certificate in Medical Education at Manchester University, and completed an International Fellowship in Paediatric Bone Marrow Transplantation at the Great North Children’s Hospital in Newcastle. He also received Certificate of Completion of Training (CCT). Working within Paediatric, Haematology, Oncology and Immunodeficiency departments, Dr. Aabideen gained further valuable experience in a number of high profile hospitals, including the Royal Marsden Hospital, University Hospital, and Imperial College Healthcare Centre in London; the Manchester Children’s Hospital; Alder Hey Children’s Hospital in Liverpool; the Queen’s Medical Centre in Nottingham; and the Bristol Children’s Hospital, before moving onto Consultant roles in both
Manchester and Coventry. During his time in the UK, Dr. Aabideen became a Fellow of the Higher Education Academy, a member of the Royal College of Pediatrics and Child Health in 2005, and a member of both the International Pediatric Oncology Organization (SIOP) and the UK Children’s Cancer and Leukemia Group (CCLG). Dr. Aabideen has published a number of peer reviewed articles in a variety of International Journals. He has also actively shared his knowledge with others by contributing towards international conference presentations all across the world, including events in India, Portugal, Spain, Italy, Australia, New Zealand, UK and the USA. Following successful stint training and working in the UK, Dr. Aabideen transferred back to the United Arab Emirates in 2016, in order to help improve healthcare in the region by employing techniques and methods learned in the UK. With special areas of interest and expertise including paediatric leukaemia, paediatric solid tumours, thalassemia, anaemia, haemophilia, paediatric immunodeficiency disease, and bone marrow transplantation, Dr. Aabideen works at Burjeel Hospital in Abu Dhabi. Adhering to strict UK guidelines, he follows a UK-based protocol management system to achieve the best outcomes for children with cancer and other blood diseases all across the UAE.