Editor's Word
July 2010

Dear Colleagues,

This is the second issue of the journal after it was approved for indexing at the PubMed/Medline database of the U.S. National Library of Medicine in November 2009. All articles from the previous issues were successfully submitted, indexed and searchable in the PubMed/Medline website (www.pubmed.gov). This achievement has placed the journal into the global mainstream gaining broader international acceptance and attracted the attention of medical researchers, clinicians and medical libraries worldwide. Not surprisingly, the journal has witnessed a substantial increase in the submission of manuscripts for publication.

On the other hand, an important development in palliative care is evolving in the Gulf region. We are glad to note that palliative care is now a serious consideration in the care and management of cancer patients.  One of the major topics discussed during the inaugural meeting of the Initiative to Improve Cancer Care in the Arab World in Riyadh, Saudi Arabia last March 23-25, 2010 was Access to Palliative Care. This reinforces the current trend that palliative care is an important and integral component of cancer care and management. In Kuwait, the first Palliative Center will be opening in a few months and will be housed in a new building with 92 beds, equipped with modern facilities and serviced by professional medical staff.

We would like to inform our readers that the 5^th Gulf Federation for Cancer Control Conference on Colorectal Cancer will be held in Sharjah, UAE, in March 2011 under the patronage of Shaikha Jowaher Bin Mohamed Al Qassimi of the United Arab Emirates. We encourage researchers and clinicians to attend, participate and submit abstracts on the topics of the conference. Abstracts can be submitted directly to the journal by post or by email and will be forwarded automatically to the conference organizers.

Another good news is the start of the screening program for Breast Cancer In Saudi Arabia, Kuwait and Bahrain. In Kuwait for example, the mobile unit for breast screening is equipped with the latest state-of-the-art equipment to serve patients all over Kuwait. This mobile screening unit is operated by trained professionals and oncology doctors.

On a final note, we encourage oncologists all over the world, particularly those in the Arab world, to share their activities and to enhance communication and interaction among themselves. The Gulf Federation for Cancer Control welcomes membership and the Journal is open to accept manuscripts, publications on news and events and feature articles for this purpose.

Best regards,

Dr. Khaled A. Al-Saleh
Editor-In-Chief