250 people attended the "Vietnam Cancer Patients Forum" 2023

On August 26, 250 patients and their relatives from all over the country gathered in Hue to listen to the sharing of oncology experts from the University of Chicago & Stanford University (USA). The program is a continuation of the "Vietnam Cancer Patient Forum" in 2017 & 2018 organized by Salt Cancer Initiative (SCI) in collaboration with Hue Central Hospital & Military Industry - Telecommunications Group ( VIETTEL ).

250 người dự 'Diễn đàn bệnh nhân ung thư Việt Nam' 2023

Professor Olufunmilayo I. Olopade - Director of the Center for Clinical Cancer Genetics at the University of Chicago shared at the Forum. (Source: SCI)

Since the Covid-19 pandemic, the Vietnam Cancer Patient Forum 2023 has officially returned to Hue City. Continuing the theme “Era of Hope”, the program helps to open up faith and hope in medical advances, by connecting Vietnamese patients with experts and leading doctors in the field of oncology at home and abroad.

As one of the world's leading researchers in genetic testing and genetic risk stratification of breast cancer, Professor Olufunmilayo I. Olopade - Director of the Center for Clinical Cancer Genetics at the University of Chicago shared, "The hope of precision medicine is to have the right drug for the right person at the right time. Triple-negative breast cancer is not the majority of breast cancers.

But if we have drugs that can target the genetic abnormalities in these tumours and can quickly conduct global clinical trials, not only can we complete the research quickly, but we can also help many more women around the world have access to a cure in the future."

One of the highlights of this year’s forum was “Immunotherapy” shared by Dr. Kim-Son H. Nguyen, currently working at the Department of Oncology - Stanford University. This therapy has opened up many hopes to help increase survival rates for many different types of cancer, effective even in late stages.

A study by researchers at the University of California, Los Angeles (UCLA) on patients with advanced non-small cell lung cancer showed that the immunotherapy drug pembrolizumab increased the average 5-year survival rate of these patients from about 5.5% to more than 15%.

In addition to immunotherapy, the event also explored content related to cancers with high infection rates in Vietnam such as: "Precision medicine in the treatment and prevention of breast and ovarian cancer", "Prevention and early detection of cervical cancer", "Advances in ovarian cancer treatment", "Immunotherapy", "Lung cancer screening", "Palliative care in cancer treatment", "Impact of indoor air pollution on health", etc.

The above contents were shared by leading medical experts from Hue Central Hospital: Associate Professor, Dr. Pham Nguyen Tuong - Deputy Director of the Oncology Center - Hue Central Hospital, MD Phan Thi Do Quyen, MSc. Dr. Nguyen Minh Hanh, MSc. Dr. Pham Nhu Hien; and professors and doctors from the University of Chicago: Professor Olufunmilayo I. Olopade - Director of the Center for Clinical Cancer Genetics at the University of Chicago, Professor C. Sola Olopade - Head of Training Department, Faculty of Science - Biology and Pritzker School of Medicine, University of Chicago.

Ms. Hoang Lan Huong - Deputy Director of Hue Central Hospital delivered the opening speech at the Forum. (Source: SCI)

Speaking at the forum, Ms. Hoang Thi Lan Huong, Deputy Director of Hue Central Hospital shared: “We hope that through the program, patients and their families will have more confidence and knowledge to be more steadfast on this difficult journey.

Wearing a white coat to improve the health of patients, we always keep in mind that we want to contribute more to the community, bringing values not only in terms of material but also in terms of spirit, so that the warriors are empowered to continue fighting. Therefore, we are very happy to be able to spread good values with SCI", she added.

This year's forum featured many "cancer warriors" who have bravely overcome their illness, sharing inspirational stories of determination, faith, optimism, and encouragement for newly diagnosed cancer warriors. Notably, there were prominent figures who participated in the Vietnam Cancer Patient Forum in 2018, now returning to help the community. The program was also a reunion for the cancer warrior community across the country after 5 years of the program's return.

Coming to this year's forum, Ms. Nguyen Chi, a lung cancer patient in Da Nang, shared: "2018 was the first year I attended this event. At that time, I was given more strength and spirit by meeting people with the same disease who did not show weakness when talking about cancer. On the contrary, I felt a strange optimism and strength.

SCI cancer patients gather at the airport before attending the Forum. (Source: SCI)

That spirit made me change my attitude towards the treatment process. Instead of avoiding it, I proactively sought information and believed that the treatment would have good results. This year, the reason I came back was because I knew there were people like me in 2018. I was happy to give what I received."

At this year’s Forum, representatives of Salt Cancer Initiative (SCI) will also share their development orientations and new projects to be implemented in the future. In 6 years of operation, SCI has implemented many artistic projects such as wind painting classes, music meditation, therapeutic movement dance, handmade crafts, art therapy, etc. These activities not only bring new experiences, help release emotions, but are also a form of therapy, healing the soul through the language of art.

The upcoming art project, Love Rosie , is a program within the larger theme of Art for cancer, aiming to provide information, raise public awareness about cancer, update medical advances that help open up new hope for the treatment process, and at the same time create a space to experience and interact with the community through unique and diverse art forms.

“Recognizing the value of art forms that have a strong impact on the mental and emotional health of patients, we developed the “Art for cancer” project, aiming to provide information, raise public awareness about cancer, update medical advances that help open up new hope for the treatment process, and at the same time create a space to experience and interact with the community through unique and diverse art forms,” said SCI Executive Director, Mrs. Nguyen Thi Hong Nhung share.

Salt Cancer Initiative (SCI) is a social enterprise founded by Ms. Truong Thanh Thuy (Thuy Muoi), aiming to provide accurate medical information and knowledge & organize activities to support the cancer patient community in Vietnam.

After more than 6 years of operation with the motto: "You don't have to fight cancer alone!", SCI has created many programs and activities to accompany more than 25,000 cancer patients, relatives and people interested in cancer in Vietnam.

Regular free activities such as a series of 9 yoga classes in 5 cities (Hanoi, Ho Chi Minh City, Hue, Da Nang, Thai Binh), drawing classes, online cancer knowledge library, medical seminars with doctors... contribute to providing knowledge & connecting patients with the community to inspire people to live more optimistically and positively. In addition to regular activities, SCI also organizes large-scale community events every year, gathering hundreds and thousands of participants such as the Vietnam Cancer Patient Forum, the "5000 Happy Steps" Walking Festival...

Source