Activities of the 5th Annual International Breast Cancer Conference were launched today in the presence of more than 800 participants from various health sectors in the Kingdom in addition to international speakers from USA and Canada.
Dr. Mitib Al Fihidi, Chairman of the Scientific Committee, Breast Tumors Consultant in Princess Norah Oncology Center, talked about the importance of educating women on breast cancer, noting that the increasing high rate of breast cancer is one of the most serious health issues.
According the National Cancer Registry (NCR) in Saudi Arabia for 2009, 1300 cases were recorded of women affected with breast cancer with a percentage of 13.5%. A rate of 22 cases per one hundred thousand women.
Fortunately it is a small percentage if compared with western countries; where as 130 women out of 100,000 are diagnosed with breast cancer a year in United States.
Through this international conference the National Guard Health Affairs hopes to strengthen the collaboration between local oncologists and specialists worldwide to exchange the latest advances in breast cancer diagnoses and treatment.