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mam Abdulrahman bin Faisal Hospital - Dammam held breast cancer activities through an awareness educational exhibition that lasted for three days in King Fahad clinic. According to the Regional Executive Director of National Guard Health Affairs - Eastern Region, Dr. Ahmed Al Arfaj, ” The exhibition aimed to raise awareness on fighting breast cancer through direct meetings with staff and visitors, and delivering several messages including ways to diagnose and treat this disease”.
He said: “Our goal is to educate women on the importance of preventing breast cancer and highlighting the importance of early detection in raising the chances of curing it. Breast cancer is the most common type of cancer among women in the world, especially in Saudi Arabia where it represents approximately 24% of all cancer types among women, according to medical statistics”.
Dr. Ahmed Al Arfaj also said: "according to The Saudi Cancer Registry (SCR) in the Kingdom, the estimated number of cases is about 18 cases per 100,000 women, which is the lowest average compared to other countries, as in the United States of America it is about 120 cases per 100.000, and in Canada about 98 cases per 100.000 but In Kuwait, it is 36 cases per 100.000. According to some studies, there are about 800 new cases of breast cancer in the Kingdom which are diagnosed annually among women around the age of 48 years old.
Saudi Cancer Society participated in this awareness exhibition by providing a Mammogram car for screening breast cancer, as well as the participation of several Departments in Imam Abdulrahman Al Faisal Hospital - Dammam such as the Department of Surgery, Radiology, Family Medicine, Health Education, Obstetrics and Gynecology and nursing.
Previous studies shown that 24% of breast cancer cases that are diagnosed in the third stage, where the tumor is advanced locally and spread in the lymph nodes. 18% of these cases, the cancer has spread beyond the breast and lymph nodes in to the breastbone, liver and lungs, and 35% of these cases, it is localized and limited.
The Mammogram car attracted a lot of visitors, and the audience showed full admiration for the awareness show section which has been divided according to treatment and surgical stages.
It’s worth noting that this activity comes to compliment other National Guard Health affairs activities to achieve its mission towards the community.