CPCP MISSION

The CPCP is committed to helping the community prevent cancer and decrease the burden of this disease through education, screening, counseling and research.

CPCP VISION

The CPCP’s vision is to have a holistic cancer prevention and control program that targets patients before, during and after cancer. The CPCP will lay the foundations and set the standards in the field of cancer prevention and control in the Middle East and North Africa region.

The CPCP committee, through its interdisciplinary and engaging structure, focuses on a cancer prevention and control continuum that ranges from Primary to  Secondary to Tertiary prevention.

The CPCP program has 4 main areas of focus:

1. Awareness and Education: To increase public knowledge about cancer and how to identify and reduce cancer risk factors:  namely by helping people change their behavior and lifestyle such as smoking habits, unhealthy diets, maintaining a healthy weight and a good level of physical activity and more…

2. Cancer Screening and early detection: To step up the detection of cancer in the preclinical phase: the earliest the cancer stage, the more effective the treatment. This component will promote and support some of the effective tests that people should have at certain ages for early detection.

3. Survivorship: Aims to strengthen our understanding of cancer survivorship and encourage targeted interventions to ensure good quality of life of patients after recovery from cancer.

4. Research: Focuses on innovative pre-clinical, translational, clinical and epidemiological research leading to better prevention, treatment and control of cancer.

• The CPCP engages in different cancer-related awareness campaigns throughout the year and supports efforts to create a greater awareness of cancer.

• Planned awareness events usually follow a calendar of cancer months and dates recognized and observed by internationally acknowledged, non-profit organizations that provide support and education about cancer.

• Online awareness sessions responded to the need to format cancer prevention awareness initiatives within the context of the limitations imposed by the covid-19 pandemic and what it entailed via the possibilities of undertaking cancer prevention/community health projects. A shift of campaigning feasibility to a virtual format offered a well-adapted solution.

• Awareness dates like months, weeks, and days are important as they rally us together for a common cause to show solidarity, spread awareness and show support.

• The NKBCI’s mission to prevent and raise awareness about cancer in order to improve the lives of those affected finds no better channel than community outreach events, creating positive empowerment for the public and those living with health conditions and their loved ones.

• The CPCP makes use of the educational material it develops and shares it with collaborating NGOs to disseminate information about cancer.

VIEW ALL EVENTS

The CPCP’s scholarly activities focus on:  

• Finalizing various educational and informational materials on cancer in print and digital form, booklets on cancer management and prevention, development and design of reader friendly infographics for preventable cancers prevention and tobacco related topics and more digital media cancer related resources
• Hosting international motivational speakers
  • James Herbert, Professor of Epidemiology, Community Medicine and Biostatistics, Director of University of South Carolina Cancer Prevention Program.
  • Lifang Hou, Professor of Preventive medicine, member of the national Blue Ribbon Panel, Northwestern University
  • Akram Ghantous, Faculty Member – ‎International Agency for Research on Cancer
  • Victoria Seewaldt, Ruth Ziegler Professor and Chair of the Department of Population Science at City of Hope and Associate Cancer Center Director

• Publications:
  • National cancer control plans across the Eastern Mediterranean region: challenges and opportunities to scale-up. Fadhil I, Alkhalawi E, Nasr R, Fouad H, Basu P, Camacho R, Alsaadoon H. Lancet Oncol. 2021 Nov;22(11):e517-e529. doi: 10.1016/S1470-2045(21)00410-1. PMID: 34735820.
  • Impact of the COVID-19 pandemic on smoking behavior and beliefs among the American University of Beirut community. Ghadban, Zgheib, Romani, Bou Akl and Nasr. Tobacco Prevention and Cessation. 2022, vol 8, January.
  • Primary care and pulmonary physicians’ knowledge and practice concerning screening for lung cancer in Lebanon, a middle-income country. Bou Akl, Zgheib, Matar, Mukherji, Bardus and Nasr. Cancer Medicine. 2021; 00:1–8
  • Knowledge, beliefs, and practices related to cancer screening and prevention in Lebanon: community and social media users’ perspectives. Telvizian, Al Ghadban, Alawa, Mukherji, Zgheib, Sawaf, Nasr and Bardus. European Journal of Cancer Prevention, 2020, Sep 17.
  • Giant Inflatable Colon Model Enhances Lebanese Community Knowledge and Intention for Colorectal Cancer Screening. Baassiri, El-Harakeh, Itani, Nassar, Safi, Dassouki, Romani, Zgheib and Nasr. JCO Global Oncology. 2020; 6:167-173, American Society of Clinical Oncology.
  • Giant Inflatable Colon Enhances Community Knowledge and Intention for Colorectal Cancer Screening. Rihab Nasr, on behalf of the Cancer Prevention and Control Program, Naef K. Basile Cancer Institute and AMALOUNA team, American University of Beirut, Lebanon. The poster was presented at WCC 2018 and published in: Journal of Global Oncology 2018 4:Supplement 2, 131s-131s.
  • Presentation of our CRC collaborative initiative “A collaborative Initiative to raise awareness about colorectal cancer and to encourage CRC screening” at WCC 2018. This initiative was among the 3 collaborations selected to be presented at UICC out of 11 submissions from the Middle East and North Africa region and based on a scoring process.
  • Our events are published on the map of Impact of the World Cancer Cay/ UICC website

VIEW ALL BROCHURES

• The CPCP actively fosters the development of informational resources in different media forms (print and digital) on cancer prevention while directing its awareness efforts on two main elements for cancer prevention in Lebanon: promoting early screening for cancer and tobacco cessation by sharing continuous knowledge on the carcinogenic risk of tobacco in its many forms.
• Information media developed, designed and produced at NKBCI by the CPCP is used in the program’s various community outreach activities, planned health awareness campaigns and events, and shared with collaborating NGOs.
• Prepared information may also support disease awareness on NKBCI Blood Diseases Program: namely Iron Deficiency and Thrombosis.

Learn more with our user-friendly informedia resources in English & Arabic by clicking on the hyperlinks to our dedicated Pinterest account: 

Prevention and screening:

• Tobacco & Cancer English/Arabic
• Live healthy prevent cancer English/Arabic

• Reduce your cancer risk + Screen English/Arabic
• Ways to reduce your cancer risk

1. Avoiding tobacco
2. Getting screened
3. Getting vaccinated
4. Weighing healthy
5. Limiting alcohol
6. Eating healthy
7. Protecting your skin
8. Staying active

Cancer Screening:

• Screening Can Save Your Life: Lung, Colorectal & Prostate Cancer Screening English/Arabic

1. Screening for lung cancer English/Arabic
2. Screening for colorectal cancer English/Arabic
3. Screening for prostate cancer English/Arabic

Diseases:

• Prostate cancer English/Arabic
• Testicular cancer English/Arabic
• Pancreatic cancer
• PSA level journal + PSA infographic

Blood disorders:

Iron deficiency:

1. Knowing more on iron deficiency
2. Symptoms of iron deficiency

• The CPCP actively fosters and promotes the development and dissemination of informational and awareness resources on various topics related to the prevention, management and treatment of cancer.
• As such the CPCP aims to be an information resource hub on cancer. While focusing on the importance of cancer screening and tobacco control; the information the CPCP puts forward accounts for the most frequently diagnosed diseases, published local research, and tobacco smoking as a main risk factor.
• Resources developed at NKBCI by the CPCP are used in the program’s various community outreach activities and shared with collaborating NGOs: planned health awareness campaigns and events for the public whether for an adult public audience, schools or at AUBMC grounds for patients and caretaker families. After being reviewed by our medical specialists, booklets are published through both the Patient Affairs and Communications departments.

The following resources are available:

VIEW ALL EDUCATIONAL MATERIAL

General care:

• Tobacco and Cancer

Screening for Cancer

• Screening for lung cancer: NEW

▪ Screening for colorectal cancer

▪ Healthy Living: Cancer Prevention

▪ Helping a loved one with cancer

▪ Genetic Testing for Cancer

▪ Implantable port

▪ Peripherally inserted catheter – PICC line: NEW

▪ Chemotherapy

▪ Dangers of passive smoking

▪ Central venous access catheters

▪ Caring for a Hickman catheter

▪ Measuring distress in cancer patients

▪ Risk factors for cancer

▪ Available genetic tests

▪ Cancer related fatigue

▪ Screening for Lung Cancer

▪ Symptoms of Cancer

▪ Physical activity during cancer treatment

▪ Inflammation and cancer

Psycho-Oncology

• Dealing with a cancer diagnosis: NEW

Diseases:

• Bladder cancer

• Lung cancer: NEW

• ALL: NEW 

• Prostate cancer: NEW

• Testicular cancer: NEW

• Pancreatic cancer: NEW 

• Colorectal cancer

• Ovarian cancer

• Cervical cancer

• Non-Hodgkin’s lymphoma

• Acute lymphoblastic leukemia

• The CPCP works closely with allied programs and medical departments at AUBMC in its mission to raise awareness about preventing cancer and decreasing the burden of this disease through education, screening, counseling and research.
• The Cancer Prevention and Control Program also seeks to collaborate and build combined efforts with organizations working on cancer control.

A. LUNG CANCER SCREENING PROGRAM:

• A new lung cancer screening program has been jointly established with the Health and Wellness Center and Radiation Oncology Program at AUBMC.
• Lung cancer is one of the most preventable cancers. This program has been launched owing to the high rate of smoking related lung cancers in Lebanon.

Screening for lung cancer can save lives. Why is Screening Important?

• Detects cancer before it causes any symptoms
• Reduces the risk of cancer mortality & improve treatment & cure

LUNG CANCER SCREENING IS A PROCESS:

• Eligibility: Assessment of lung cancer risk & eligibility for lung cancer screening by a family physician: Recommended for heavy smokers aged 55 years or older (*In case of family history of lung cancer or a history of lung disease consult the physician).
• Discussion of screening benefits/risks with physician
• Counseling on smoking cessation and explanation of the smoking cessation program by a nurse
• Exam order: Physician orders a low dose CT of the chest (LDCT), nurse takes the appointment
• Follow-up with physician: Physician follows up on the LDCT results and discusses the results
• Scheduling follow-up visits/exam: Based on test results

More information can be found by clicking on this infographic: The Lung Cancer Screening Program 

The Lung Cancer Screening Program can be reached at The Health & Wellness Center in AUBMC. Please call 81-677422 or 01 – 350000, ext. 8030

B. SMOKING CESSATION PROGRAM:

• In its focused approach on tobacco control for cancer prevention, the CPCP supports the action of the smoking cessation program at the Health & Wellness Center at AUBMC: For more information please consult the following link: Smoking Cessation Program.
• Enrollment in the program consists of 8 sessions of counseling and therapy under the supervision of a certified dietician, nurse and physician.
• Each session is 45 minutes. The program uses group or individual counseling sessions and is based on American (promoted by both the American Lung Association and National Cancer Institute) and international clinical guidelines. This involves taking medications (nicotine replacement therapy and others), learning behavior modification, and follow-up (up to one year).

The program is suitable for all those wishing to quit cigarettes or narjileh.

More information on the Smoking Cessation Program can be found by clicking on this link: Smoking Cessation Program

For those considering quitting smoking and looking for help, the Smoking Cessation Program can be reached on 81-677422 or  01-350000, ext. 8030.

Chairperson: Hiba Moukadem, M.D. Clinical Instructor, Hematology – Oncology

Co- Chair:  Dr. Rihab Nasr, Associate Professor, Department of Anatomy, Cell Biology and Physiological Sciences, Director of Basic Research Core Facilities

Members

Dr. Ali Shamseddine, Professor, Director of Data Management Unit at the Naef K. Basile Cancer Institute

Dr. Nagi El Saghir, Professor, Director of Breast Center of Excellence at the NKBCI, Head of Division

Dr. Samar Muwakkit, Professor, Department of Pediatrics and adolescent medicine

Dr. Dany Nassar, Assistant Professor, Department of Dermatology

Dr. Maya Romani, Assistant Professor, Department of Family Medicine

Dr. Eman Sbeity, instructor of clinical specialty, Department of Surgery

Dr. Nathalie Zgheib, Associate Professor, Department of pharmacology and toxicology

Dr. Ghina Berjawi, Associate Professor, Department Of Diagnostic Radiology

Dr. Chantal Farra, Associate Professor, Department of pathology and Laboratory Medicine

Dr. Youssef Zeidan, Assistant Professor, Department of Radiation Oncology

Dr. Reem Abdallah, Assistant Professor, Department of Obstetrics and Gynecology

Dr. Marco Bardus, Assistant Professor, Department of health promotion and community health, FHS

Ms. Abir Noureddine Barhoumi, Assistant Director, Department of clinical nutrition

Ms. Wafaa Skaff, Outpatient Services Registered Nurse III, NKBCI

Ms. Dima Karam, Patient education officer

Ms. Celine Abou Karam, NKBCI administrator

Visiting members

Ms. Rasha Hamra, MOH representative

Ms. Alissar Radi, WHO representative

Hiba Moukadem, M.D.

Clinical Instructor, Hematology – Oncology

Director Cancer Prevention & Control Program

hm127@aub.edu.lb

Ext: 7980

Rihab Nasr, PhD

Associate Professor, Anatomy, Cell Biology & Physiological Sciences

Consultant Cancer Prevention & Control Program

Rn03@aub.edu.lb

Ext: 4812

Dima Karam, MPH, MRes, Master of Health Communication

Health communication specialist

Naef K. Basile Cancer Institute

Dk08@aub.edu.lb

Ext: 5111

Celine Abou Karam, RN, MLC

Clinical Department Administrator

Naef K. Basile Cancer institute

Ca40@aub.edu.lb

Ext: 7903