Editor's Word

Dear Colleagues,

Nothing is more relevant these days than how the corona virus is threatening the lives of people around the world. This pandemic has sparked fears, chaos, social dislocation, economic disaster and worse of all, a public health emergency that would cost many human lives. On top of the corona virus are the other diseases like cancer, in which the negative effects of COVID-19 on the management of cancer patients has to be mitigated. Cancer specialists are currently focusing on the relation between cancer and COVID-19 and they are very cautious and worried about the impact of COVID-19 on the cancer patient and cancer treatment.

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This pandemic has also caused the postponement and rescheduling of almost all public conferences and scientific gatherings around the world. We in the Gulf region remain in contact with our colleagues using audio-video technology and other social media applications to keep abreast of our activities. I also note a new term “webinar” wherein seminars and conferences are hosted online to attract participants in every part of the world without being physically present. This may be the new medium to conduct our conferences in the future.

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I am pleased to inform you that in this issue of the Gulf Journal of Oncology, we are publishing the first paper on the link between the corona virus and cancer disease. This original study is the result of cooperation between the Kuwait Cancer Control Center, Princess Noorah Oncology Center, Ministry of the National Guard - Health Affairs, Jeddah and the Oncology Center, King Faisal Specialist Hospital and Research Center, Riyadh, Saudi Arabia. I am encouraging our doctors, scientists and researchers in the gulf area to contribute their studies on cancer and this new disease as the GCC countries are leading the way in terms of research and scientific activities in the region.