CONCLUDED: PHOCON-2012 concluded at DMCH

Ludhiana, November 18, 2012: Three-day 16th Annual Pediatric Haematology Oncology Conference “PHOCON-2012”-got concluded today with an impressive valedictory function, which was presided over by Secretary of DMCH Managing Society, Prem Kumar Gupta.

Prem Kumar Gupta lauded the efforts of Department of Pediatrics and Arpita Cancer Society for Children in organizing a national conference of this stature.

Those present on the occasion were Principal Dr Daljit Singh, Chief Cardiologist Dr GS Wander and Medical Superintendents Dr Sandeep Puri and Dr Ashwani Chaudhary.

Organizing Secretary-Dr Praveen C. Sobti proposed a vote of thanks to all the dignitaries and delegates present on the occasion.

In her valedictory address to the audience, Dr Sobti said that PHOCON-2012 has provided us a forum for an exchange of rich clinical experience by the great practitioners which will certainly result in achieving still higher excellence in the field of Pediatric Hematology and Oncology.

The highlight of concluding day of PHOCON-2012 was “Fertility Check up of thalassemic patients” by doctors from I-CET group. With the advancement in medical treatment, most thalassemics now do lead an essentially normal life. They go to school, take part in social activities and work, get engaged, and get married like everyone else. According to the doctors, the iron overload associated with thalassemia can affect the development of both male and female sex organs, which can in turn affect the reproductive capabilities of a person with thalassemia. As with many other issues related to thalassemia, maintaining a proper chelation therapy may help prevent fertility issues from arising. The less iron in the body, the less likely it is to settle in the hypothalamus or pituitary and bring about fertility barriers. A total of 30 patients were examined in the Fertility Check Up clinic.

Third and concluding day of the conference include “Symposium on Thalassemia & Leukemia”. Dr De Sanctis from Italy spoke on “Endocrine problems in Thalassemia” followed by lecture on “Issues of fertility” by Dr Nicos Skordis from St. George University, London. Dr Heba Elsedfy from Cairo, Egypt enlightened the delegates about “Cardiac complications in Thalassemia”. Other international speakers include Dr L Krishnamurthy from Children Hospital, St. Pittsburg, USA, Dr Nicholas from France and Dr Sally Kinsey from UK who delivered lectures on “Bone Marrow Transplant in Thalassemia & sickle Cell Disease” “Metronomics: another way forward for developing countries” and “Neutrophil disorders in children” respectively.

Dr MB Aggarwal, Dr Shripad Banavali and Dr Girish Chinnasway from Mumbai spoke in the topics “Management of ALL”, “Philadelphia Chromosome positive” and  “Germ Cell tumours: treatment algorithms”

Dr Sameer Bakshi and Dr R N Makroo from New Delhi delivered lectures on “Pediatric AML” and “Enhancing blood safety”. Other speakers include Dr Deepak Bansal and Dr Shano Naseem from PGIMER, Chandigarh and Dr Brijesh Arora from Mumbai