A BRITISH medical student is to fly to Iraq  to investigate claims of a massive increase in cancer since the Gulf War. Asif Ali, a fourth-year student at Guy's, King's and St Thomas' Medical School, has been given a bursary by The Cancer Research Campaign to visit Baghdad for two months to examine official claims that the incidence of cancer - particularly childhood leukaemia - has increased five-fold since 1991. During his stay, Mr Ali will compare the way childhood leukaemia is treated in Iraq with how it is tackled in Britain. He will also examine Iraqi claims that patients are dying from the disease because international sanctions have led to shortages or non-availability of essential drugs. Mr Ali will work with cancer specialists and meet patients and their families.