Royan Institute for Stem Cell Biology and Technology holds a seminar in cooperation with MAHAK

Royan institute held “Fertility in Cancer” seminar with MAHAK’s cooperation at MAHAK Pediatric Cancer Treatment and Research Center (MPCTRC) on 21 June 2018.

With more than 27 years of experience in providing treatment and support services to cancer-stricken children, MAHAK has been striving to promote the medical science in the field of cancer education through exchanging its knowledge and expertise. Therefore, MAHAK has always been one of the partners of reputable scientific organizations. Royan Institute, also as one of these organizations and in a joint action with MAHAK held a seminar focusing on the effect of cancer treatments on reproductive organs of men and women and the methods for preserving the fertility in cancer-stricken children. Since infertility is a late side effect of cancer and has a magnificent effect on the life of cancer-stricken children after recovery, it is one of the main concerns of these children and their families. As a result, focusing on the issue of infertility is a research objective for MAHAK. A joint research project with Avicenna Research Institute on “fertility after chemotherapy” and a collaborative project with Gustave Roussy Institute of Oncology, in France on late side effects of cancer treatment are among MAHAK’s measures for improving the life quality of cancer-stricken children and improving the treatment services provided to them.

This event began with an introductory speech by Dr. Mardawig Alebouyeh, chairman of the board of trustees and member of the medical council of MAHAK Pediatric Cancer Treatment and Research Center (MPCTRC).

Dr. Alebouyeh, highlighting the cooperation of MAHAK with Royan Institute, said: “The mission and ultimate goal of MAHAK is the treatment and survival of children with cancer. Treatment methods have had great improvements, in comparison to the past and according to the announced statistics 80% of children with cancer have the chance of survival. Moreover, experience has proved that curing cancer is not enough per se and the children develop abnormalities and complications after the recovery. Today the issue of cancer-stricken children’s fertility is of great importance, since a significant number of these children are on the brink of infertility. Focusing on their fertility is as crucial as providing treatment and support services to cancer-stricken children.

Dr. Alebouyeh stated that: “One of the measures of MAHAK with the cooperation of Royan Institute is preserving the fertility of cancer-stricken children. Today in this gathering we focus on the importance of this issue and the methods for fertility in cancer will be discussed.”

Dr. Abdolhossein Shahverdi the head of Royan Institute in the opening speech of the ceremony said that the scientific knowledge in line with the companionships of the specialists and scientists can result in diminishing the pain caused by cancer. He added: “Today, Royan Institute has had great achievements in the field of infertility treatment and receives patients from other countries. Generally, preserving the fertility has an important role in cancer treatment as there is a potential for infertility in cancer patients. Consequently, we hope that Royan Institute and MAHAK Pediatric Cancer Treatment and Research Center (MPCTRC) will have great achievements in this vein by providing specialized treatment services.”

Dr. Shahverdi predicted that great results will be gained by this seminar and by the cooperation between MAHAK and Royan Institute. “Undoubtedly, the cooperation between cancer treatment and infertility treatment team will take a great burden off the families’ shoulders. Moreover, if more fertility preservation occurs, more success will be gained by that which will help cancer-stricken children. We hope this seminar will lead to more and more collaborations between MAHAK and Royan Institute.” He said.

Providing treatment and support services to cancer-stricken children in the framework of national and international standards, decreasing the late side effects of cancer treatment by implementing the most efficient and updated methods and the latest achievements in medical science are included in MAHAK’s mission. MAHAK strives to find effective methods for cancer treatment which lead to a reduction in the rate of pediatric cancer through developing collaborations with national and international cancer and research institutes.