The Breast Cancer Awareness Month Activities organized by Princess Noorah Oncology Center (PNOC) at King Abdulaziz Medical City – MNG-HA which lasted for 2 days were concluded. The conference was attended by 1750 participants from various medical disciplines along with an elite international oncology from USA, Canada, UK and Italy. This conference objective was to achieve a unique integration that raise the level of patients service to the highest specialized professional criteria in addition to international standards of medical care, along with presenting an interactive platform between Saudi and international oncologists to cover and review the latest developments in the diagnosis and treatment of breast cancer.
During the conference which spanned over 2 days, 10 international speakers covered 26 scientific sessions and was accredited with 30 CME Hours by the Saudi Commission for Health Specialties (SCHS).
Among the speakers, Dr. Sandra Swain, a breast cancer specialist, medical director of the Washington Cancer Institute and a professor of medicine at Georgetown University Medical Center delivered a speech in which she said that her participation illustrates her clinical experience about breast cancer, and that research development is always changing therefore, such conferences allow all doctors and researchers to discuss the latest developments, making methods of treatment easier around the world.
Additionally, the breast cancer awareness campaign activities started on the 11th of October 2015 under the slogan "prevention is the objective". The activities also included an awareness event for women in the Intercontinental Hotel on Friday, October 23rd, 2015 which will cover educational and awareness lectures, along with an open dialogue.
Breast Cancer Consultant and Head of the Scientific Committee Dr. Meteb AlFoheidi explained that
breast cancer is the most common cancer in women according to the 2010 Saudi Cancer Registry, he pointed out that the number of registered cases reached 1473 case of breast cancer by 15%, but it represents 27% of all women with cancer in general, and the average age is 49. The distribution of breast cancer stages at diagnosis varies, as stage 1 and 2 make up 32%, stage 3 with 40% and 17% for stage 4. These statistics conclude that the diagnosis of the a breast tumor in its 3rd and 4th stage is relatively high. Dr. AlFoheidi also added that breast cancer factors are age, genes for 10%, hormonal changes, hormonal treatments for long periods, weights, and lack of physical exercise.
At the end of the conference, the participating Agencies.