The first entity dedicated to cancer was established named “Nuclear Medical Center” with a single radiotherapy unit in 1969. Since then, the concept of oncology has rapidly progressed with the establishment of a division of oncology in the University of Damascus, School of Medicine with six staff members at that time. In 2001, a National Cancer Registry was established with the help of the World Health Organization. Many civil societies related to cancer awareness, early detection, and care of patients bloomed, first being the Syrian Cancer Society.Now cancer diagnosis and treatment facilities are spread all over the county but mainly concentrated in Damascus, Lattakia, and Aleppo. All three main government related medical entities that are the Ministry of Higher Education, Ministry of Health, and the Medical Corps are involved in the process with the help of the private sector also. This progress of course was slowed due to the bloody aggression that engulfed Syria for 10 years of conflict. However, it did not halt the country’s goals and achievements.In 2006, Nuclear Medicine Centre was developed into a comprehensive institution for cancer, Al Bairouni University Hospital (ABUH) to provide free standard of care treatment for all citizens. The Syrian National Committee for cancer control (SNCCC) was established in June 2019 with a mission of strategic planning for better cancer management in collaboration with all stakeholders aiming to raise cancer services to the best possible standard in the post-war era. The chapters’ focus is to discuss cancer care services being provided in the country and future challenges that need to be addressed for high quality oncology care services in Syria.

PURPOSE This study aims to describe the clinical manifestations, laboratory findings, treatment, and outcomes of patients with cancer with COVID-19 infection in Syria. The primary objective was to identify the overall survival (OS) time, and the secondary objectives were to identify factors associated with severe COVID-19 infection. METHODS This multicenter retrospective study was undertaken at four hospitals in Damascus, Syria, between March 28, 2020, and March 29, 2021. Data extracted from medical records included clinical manifestations, radiologic findings, laboratory results, treatment, and outcomes. Survival analysis was done by using the Kaplan-Meier method and Cox regression model for follow-up and anticancer treatment patients to study the effect on OS time. The effects of potential risk factors of developing severe COVID-19 were studied by multivariable logistic regression. RESULTS Of 114 patients included, 61 (53.51%) were male. Smokers represented 29 (25.44%), and 63 (55.26%) patients had a history of coexisting chronic diseases. The most common cancer type was breast cancer 17 (14.91%). Sixty-eight (59.65%) patients were receiving anticancer treatment within 1 month of being diagnosed with COVID-19 infection and 46 (40.35%) were outpatient follow-ups. Multiple logistic regression analysis showed that comorbidities (odds ratio: 2.814, P = .044) and anticancer treatment (odds ratio: 8.790, P < .05) were risk factors linked to severe to critical COVID-19 infection. OS time was 245 (95% CI, 217.96 to 272.47) days, lower among patients with cancer with COVID-19 infection receiving anticancer treatment compared with follow-up patients ( P value < .05). CONCLUSION Patients with cancer with COVID-19 infection receiving anticancer treatment had a lower OS time. It may be worth considering stopping anticancer treatment in patients with cancer with COVID-19 when possible in search of better outcomes.

Background AML can be diagnosed based on a sample of peripheral blood or bone marrow. In this article we will discuss the role of bone marrow assessment and peripheral blood monitoring in the diagnosis, management, and follow-up of patients with acute myelogenous leukemia (AML). For patients with circulating blast, it is reasonable to conduct the necessary studies for diagnosis and risk classification, including multifactorial flow cytometry, genetics Cellular, and molecular analysis on a peripheral blood sample. A 'pure day 14' assay is used to document cell deficiency in response to chemotherapy, but it is unclear whether this assessment is necessary as it often does not influence immediate management. Current recovery response assessments to assess remission and measure residual disease are based on bone marrow biopsy. Peripheral blood assessment may be sufficient to monitor relapse, but the sensitivity of the bone marrow test in some cases is higher. While bone marrow assessment can certainly be avoided in certain cases, this cumbersome and uncomfortable procedure currently remains the de facto standard for assessing response.Methods A retrospective study targeting 50 patients attending Al-Mujtahid Hospital in Damascus according to certain acceptance and exclusion criteria.Results Our study explored many aspects and factors related to leukemia, as it included two samples of 50 people, the largest proportion of them were males, and the largest proportion of the participants were between the ages of 65 − 20, and also the majority of the participants were non-smokers and non-alcoholic, moving to talk about antecedents, there was a percentage Few suffer from diabetes and arterial hypertension, while not all of the participants suffer from other tumors, as our knowledge has proven a relationship between age and remission, between smoking and AFP, and between insensitivity and complete inactivity.Conclusion We recommend conducting periodic analyzes and not neglecting any general symptom of lack of weight, appetite or heat, as it was the most common among patients. We also recommend the need to stay away from smoking and alcohol. For patients, we recommend the necessity of conducting periodic analyzes in order to monitor complete and partial complacency. We also note the need to monitor minimal residual disease. The remainder because of its importance in the recurrence of the disease

Background: Thalassemia is a genetic blood disorder as a result of a defect in the genes responsible for the production of globin chains in hemoglobin, which is responsible for transporting oxygen to the cells of the body. Iron buildup is common in thalassemia patients as a result of frequent blood transfusions or because of the disease itself. The objectives of this research depend on the approach of iron overload in thalassemia patients, its causes and the resulting complications. Methods: A cross-sectional study was conducted in July 2022 by collecting data for thalassemia patients at the Damascus University Center, and work was done to convert this information into statistical tables and graphs in order to obtain the required objectives of this research. Results: By studying and comparing the serum ferritin values and following up the iron chelates used in thalassemia patients, these inferential statistics were reached: An increase in serum ferritin values in 70.6% of thalassemia patients while taking iron chelates. After discussing the reasons with the Thalassemia Center doctors supervising these cases, it was concluded that the reasons for the increase are due to: Non-compliance and lack of commitment with iron chelates as a result of its side effects such as nausea or vomiting, flatulence and abdominal pain, constipation or diarrhea, Material costs, Neglecting to take medication (either disregard for medical importance or as a result of being busy with work).We note from the cases of the 29.4% of patients whose ferritin values decreased that: 50% of cases were treated with the combination of deferiprone with another drug, and this indicates its effectiveness more than others.