ABSTRACT
Breast cancer is the most common malignancy in women and represents a leading cause of cancer-related mortalities. Females' awareness toward breast cancer is essential for the early diagnosis and detection especially in low and middle-income countries. This study aims to assess the awareness of breast cancer risk factors among females in the Syrian Coast. Methodology: An online cross-sectional survey was conducted among Syrian females during the COVID-19 pandemic. The questionnaire used in the study was derived from the Cancer Research UK questionnaire and modified to fit the perspective of the study. Statistical Package for Social Sciences (SPSS) was used for data analysis. The independent samples t-test and the one-way analysis of variance (ANOVA) were applied to determine whether there is statistical evidence or any statistically significant differences between the variables. Results: A total of 1305 females participated in the study. The majority aged between 18 and 25, (28.8%) of the participants obtained their information related to breast cancer from internet, (36.7%) of were smokers and (82.8%) had a family member with breast cancer. These results suggested a significant correlation between smoking, family history of cancer, marital status, and breast cancer awareness. Conclusion: This study showed which factors are significantly related to women's awareness of breast cancer risk factors. These results can contribute in the implementation of awareness programs and campaigns, thus raising the level of awareness among women.
ABSTRACT
Introduction and importance: Anaplastic Large-cell Lymphoma (ALCL) is a rare but aggressive type of NHL that develop from mature post-thymic T-cells. ALCL constitutes approximately 2% of all lymphoid neoplasm. It is typically found among children and young adults, accounting for 10-15% of pediatric NHL, compared to 2% of adult NHL. Case presentation: A 12-year-old Syrian boy was admitted to our hospital due to epistaxis, anorexia, weight loss and night sweats. The physical examination revealed preauricular, postauricular and submandibular lymphadenopathy. Pathological examination of the biopsy suggested Classical Hodgkin Lymphoma. Later on, Immunohistochemistry staining confirmed the diagnosis of ALK-negative Anaplastic Large Cell Lymphoma. Clinical discussion: Systemic ALCL can be categorized into two major groups based on the expression of Anaplastic Lymphoma Kinase (ALK) protein: Systemic ALK + positive and Systemic ALK-negative. The majority of pediatric cases show an overexpression of (ALK), however, pediatric ALK-negative ALCL can occur in rare cases. Conclusion: The aim of this article is to report a rare case of pediatric ALK-negative anaplastic large cell lymphoma that developed a rapid & aggressive growth within a few months despite the chemotherapy treatment and unfortunately led to the patient's death.
