A 57357’s group of researchers is participating in the 2013 European Musclo Skeletal Oncology Society (EMSOS) in Gothenburg, Sweden on May, 29, 2013 with an oral presentation .Their findings relate to the incidence , severity, and pattern of cardio toxicity (heart disease) in patients with Ewing’s Sarcoma, due to the effect of a chemotherapy drug, Doxorubibin, or radiotherapy on the chest that may affect the heart. The group, including pediatric oncologists, Dr. Manal Zamzam and Dr.Emad Moussa, cardiology consultant, Dr. Zeinab Salah and clinical research specialist, Ranin Soliman, found that since the start of operations at Hospital 57357 in 2007 till December 2011, out of the 149 Ewing’s Sarcoma patients analyzed for toxicity, 39 patients showed impaired heart functions (26%). Patients were tracked to monitor toxicity by the end of 2012, ranging from one to five years follow-up.

While 44% of patients developed heart disease during protocol treatment (acute onset), 36% developed cardio toxicity within 1 year from end of treatment, and 20% developed heart disease after 1 year from end of treatment (late onset).Based on the above mentioned findings, 57357’s research team will start prospective randomized Clinical Trial for early detection of cardio toxicity. Also, patients will be randomized to receive propylactic drugs to prevent the development of a heart disease. This way we can decrease the risk of heart disease in the future and improve patients’ toxicities from effect of chemotherapy. Hospital 57357’s mandate is and will always be to improve all its patients outcomes not only with respect to curing them from the disease but most importantly increasing their chances of a better healthy life in the future.

It is noteworthy that participation expenses in the conference are partly funded by Egypt Cancer Network 57357(ECN), a US based tax deductible nonprofit with the mission of providing resources to Egyptian Hospitals and non-profit organizations focused on cancer among which hospital 57357, in the areas of patient care, scientific advancement and education.ECN has been established and is being sustained thanks to the generosity of hundreds of Egyptian Americans eager to be of service to their motherland

Ewing’s sarcoma is a rare disease in which cancer cells are found in the bone or in soft tissues. Ewing’s sarcoma is more common in males and occurs mostly between 10 and 20 years of age. It represents 16% of primary bone sarcomas.

Ahmed has been a taxi-driver for 10 years now. His niece, “Judi”, was admitted to Hospital 57357 two years ago, to get treatment for her brain tumor. Just like all the other kids at 57357, she was given the best of care of  by each and every one at the Hospital as though she was their own.

Ever since then, her grateful  uncle, Ahmed felt a sense of duty towards the Hospital for having offered Judi quality treatment for free. He comes to the Hospital every day and waits at the  gate to transport kids with cancer and their families, comforting them by removing the additional burden  of having to wait for a taxi. He hangs some toys in the car  to entertain them and take their minds off the treatment session they went through at the Hospital.

In the holy month of Ramadan, many people from different walks of life, but mostly humble people like Ahmed, rush from all over Egypt to donate to 57357. As such, the Foundation staff work late into the night to welcome them and receive their donation.  Even then, you will still find Ahmed also working late into the night to be of service  to anyone of the Hospital staff needing a safe lift  back home.

Whatever you do for 57357, no matter how simple, it can make a difference to many lives!

Once she turns on her mp4 music player to run her dancing songs the children gather in front of her to dance away their sadness and take a moment to forget all about cancer. Shawn Lent is a talented American dance teaching artist, who came to Egypt on a scholarship grant to lecture at the Academy of Arts HighInstitute of Ballet in Cairo. Since August, 2012, she has been volunteering her time and special talent at 57357. In the outpatient playrooms she provides dancing sessions for different groups of patients and dance therapy for theteen peer support group.

“I walked into 57357 and felt more joy than any other place I’ve seen in Cairo. I see colors and laughter and hope. We dance in the outpatient playroom at 57357. With joy in ourselves and each other, we stretch, we shake, we boogie and balance in stillness. Through the music we create the most beautiful scene in Egypt. These kids know how to live. They are my heroes. I am honored to dance with them “, said Shawn.

Before coming to Egypt, Shawn raised $40,000 for childhood cancer in the United States by shaving her head . Today, she is committed to organizing a marathon in Cairo to raise donations for the benefit of 57357’s children with cancer; especially that Hospital 57357 is now engaged in a number of capacity expansion projects including a 300 bed in-patient tower, a Health Sciences training academy and research institute, and a hospice care and guesthouse which will enable it to meet the increasing demand for its free of charge, high quality healthcare services.

A Milestone for 57357’s positioning as a Leading Center in Pediatric Neuro-Surgery

In a recent paper by a group of Swiss researchers published in the prestigiousChilds Nerv Syst on-line journal on Sept.17, 2011, 57357’s chief Neuro-surgeon, Dr. Mohamed El Beltagi and his team were cited on several occasions. His findings( published earlier in the same journal in February 2010), about the usefulness of intra-operative ultrasound (IOUS) in pediatric brain tumor resection and its potential to substitute intra-operative MRI in most of the cases, were cited to corroborate the Swiss team’s study about the usefulness of the (IOUS) tool.

Dr. Beltagi’s earlier study on 25 patients with brain tumors pre, during and post resection revealed the following conclusion: “Intra-operative ultrasound is suggested to be a useful imaging technique in defining the border between the tumor and healthy brain tissue pre-resection, in detecting residual tumor tissues after the resection of the mass, and in guiding to the shortest andsafest access to the tumor during neuro-surgery.”

The Children’s Cancer Hospital Egypt 57357 is the major treatment centre for childhood brain tumors (most common pediatric solid tumor) throughout the region recording a 65 % over-all survival rate (up till 2012) and as a result gaining a solid reputation in this difficult malignancy. Hospital 57357 aims to expand its expertise in pediatric neuro-surgery by continuously developing its neuro-sciences department which already enjoys a competitive edge in research, being able to produce results from a large population size. All this would ultimately enable the Hospital to position itself on the world map as a leading center in this particular field.

With amazing spring weather,the 2nd annual Fundraiser for Egypt Cancer Network 57357(ECN) took place at the Four Seasons resort in Las Colinas on April 6., 2013, attracting many Arab Americans in the Dallas-Fort Worth area. This year included keynote speakers such as Jonathan Bailey, the renowned Dallas-based architect of the Children’s Cancer Hospital, Egypt’s(CCHE) current premises and its future expansion Complex, Fr. Bolous, representing His Holiness Pope Tawadros, IMAM Dr. Osama Bahloul, and the famous Egyptian actor, Ezzat Abou Ouf. Sincere words of gratitude are in order to the event Emcee Dr. S

afwan Aly, a long time friend of Dr. Abou el Naga, VP of 57357, and his esteemed spouse Dr. Amal Aqul who opened the way to the launch of ECN’s Dallas Chapter . We are also thankful for the team working to develop the chapter: Dr. Waleed Elfeky, Mr. Hazem Morsy, Mrs.Mona Abu Sayed, Mr.Ayman Abdelgawad, Mrs.Reham Sherazi, Mr.Sayed Hassan and Mrs. Barbara Hassan.Because of their enthusiasm for the cause of Egyptian patients with cancer and their continuous efforts to rally Dallas’s Arab community around it, the Dallas Chapter is recording one of the largest number of adherents.

But the highlight of the evening were testimonials from every day donors who had personal stories totell. Ms. Yasmine Al-Hag, a first generation Egyptian American, spoke of her summer spent volunteering at the CCHE, alias Hospital 57357, a leading pediatric oncology healthcare institution providing free quality care to children with cancer in Egypt and the neighboring countries What seemed at first just something to do to pass the time while vacationing with her family in Egypt turned into an amazing bonding experience with the Hospital patients. Every day, she looked forward to the moments she would be spending with the children with whom she gotcloser, especially one patient , Jana, with whom she still keeps in touch to this day.

Through their personal experiences, Mr. Baher Haroun, Sami Ibrahim, Mai Moussa and Anwar Khalifa, all shared that it is only natural to give back when you are blessed in your life. Architect Jonathan Bailey related heartwarming and funny stories on how he initially got involved with Hospital 57357 founders as well as his experiences in the city of Cairo. He ended his talk with amazing 3-D images of the new Hospital Complex.

With inspiring words, both Fr. Bolous and Dr. Bahloul, spoke about cancer not knowing any creed, or social background and that there were no barriers when it came to giving to those in need. Dr. Waleed El-Feky paused for the evening and honored Dr. Ola Ghabbour, one of the founders of the Hospital, as she passed away this year ironically due to cancer.

Celebrity Actor and Musician Ezzat Abou Ouf spoke of his love for Egypt and his closeness and special ties with Hospital 57357.Praising its action in caring and curing the children with cancer for free, he stressed the need to donate generously for its future expansion as it is presently admitting only one out of five children knocking at its doors, its capacity being stretched to the maximum.

The evening featured at silent auction, Oud playing by Abdel Fatah Shabana which according to one guest took all attendees back to the good old days of Egypt.Donations were pouring in at the end of the evening and guests left with a smile on their face , proud and glad to be of help to their beloved country Egypt.

After nearly 6 years of operation the CCHE was able to achieve a 70% over-all survival rate in the average and to get closer to the 80-85% rates achieved in the developed world. As a result, and for the sake of not having to turn away any child seeking its free quality services, the CCHE is committed to a number of capacity expansion projects namely a 60 bed extension within its premises and a 300 bed green LEED building to be joined to the main Hospital

ECN is a U.S. based 501C3 tax deductible non- profit organization in operation for nearly 2 years now with the mission of supporting and providing resources to Egyptian hospitals and non-profit organizations focused on cancer. Among the organizations ECN sponsors is Hospital 57357, recognized as a role model charitable institution offering free quality healthcare services to children with cancer in Egypt and the surrounding region