While 2/4 marked World Cancer Day, 2/15 was dedicated to childhood cancer. An annual opportunity to shed light on medical advances in oncology – diagnostics, care, advances in imaging technologies, radiotherapy, surgery… – and to highlight the success of the first bone marrow transplant at AEGLE Cancer Hospital (ACH). Delphine Raimond
The complex procedure performed by ACH’s pioneering team last December was a major advance in the treatment of blood cancer, and a small victory against the disease. The Mauritian patient – the first person on the African continent to benefit from the procedure – is now in complete remission. A milestone that promises a future that takes advantage of the most recent advances in medical science and technology, and above all becomes accessible to all! “We’re rewriting the stories of hope and healing. We envision a world where cutting-edge treatments are not just a possibility, but a reality for all those we serve,” declared Dr Teenushka Issarsing, CEO of AEGLE Cancer Hospital.
It’s a sad but necessary reminder that every second in the world, one more person dies of cancer! Hence the importance of communication and prevention. Among the many local and international associations involved in the fight against cancer, the NGO PAPIM promotes, as an absolute priority, a healthy lifestyle to reduce the risk of disease. Its awareness-raising campaigns carry a clear and effective message: simple physical activity, at home for example, helps to reduce prevalence, as does a healthy diet and quality sleep.
So let’s simply understand that junk food and a sedentary lifestyle, the real scourges of our society, must be banned… to protect ourselves!