Annual Report 2006

85
therefore the main objective of the treatment.
In view of the need for unique professionalism
for treatment of leukemia, and the rareness of
the disease, all the pediatric oncologists from
all certified hospitals in the country convened
21 years ago to establish a national treatment
regime. This arrangement, facilitated by the
constant support of the ICA, helped bridge
gaps between us and the rest of the world,
improved treatment results and helped tailor
treatment. For further information please see
Chapter on Data Collection and Follow up. Dr.
Izraeli presented this subject at a ceremony held
at the Presidential Residence.
New Research Study Assists in
Examining Effectiveness of Brain
Tumor Treatment
A new research study financed by the ICA was
conducted by Dr. Yael Merdor and of Sheba
Medical Center, Tel Hashomer. The research
focused on characterization of cell tissue,
which in the future will enable medical staff to
examine effectiveness of current brain tumor
treatment. This is a non-invasive treatment with
a quick capacity for predicting the extent of the
response to treatment which will in turn assist
in individually planning the treatment method
administered to each patient. It is hoped that
the new study will assist in reducing excessive
toxicity in treatment of cancer patients
who do not respond properly to treatment,
and will also enable the capacity to select the
appropriate treatment, at the earliest possible.
The study examines the cell tissue properties
using an imaging method that is sensitive to the
bio-physical make-up of the cell tissues based
on their water diffusion properties, called Diffusion
Weighted MRI. By implementing the above
principles we may obtain a quick and precise
diagnosis of the effectiveness of radiotherapy
and brain radiosurgery. The research utilized
parameters presented in scientific research
studies which were proven in the past to have
the capacity to predict the response of brain
tumors to regular radiation treatment as well
as to radiosurgery treatment. During the new
research study, additional variables were also
examined, which may reinforce the capacity
to predict a cancer patient's response to the
treatment he/she is given. It is hoped that the
results of this new clinical study will significantly
advance medical treatment which is currently
administered to patients with brain tumors, it
is therefore important to implement these findings
in standard clinical treatment in today's
medical world.
ICA Survey Marking "Door Knock"
Fundraising Campaign: 66% of
the Public is of the Opinion that
Cancer is not Predestined
66% of the public in Israel thinks that cancer is
not predestined, as established by a new survey
of the ICA, conducted by Mutagim Research
Institute on the occasion of the "Door Knock"
Fundraising Campaign among a national representative
sample of the Israeli populace in
September 2005, in which 506 interviewees
took part. The survey interviewees were asked:
Do you think that cancer is predestined, or is
there a possibility of preventing certain types of
cancer by taking precautions such as: quitting
smoking, avoiding unprotected sun exposure,
maintaining a proper diet and more
The interviewees in the survey were also asked:
"If you contract cancer, God forbid, or any other
acute disease, do you believe that you would
receive the proper treatment" The distribution
of the public's responses was as follows:
1. I would receive the proper treat
ment
2. I would not receive the proper
treatment
3. Do not know
47%
38%
15%
It further emerged from the study that 37% of
the public believes that smoking causes most
cases of cancer, 8% of the public believes that
antennae and cellular phones cause most cases