JEDDAH, 18 October 2005 — Responding to recent statistics showing that one woman in five may be affected by breast cancer, the Ministry of Health is launching a Kingdomwide awareness campaign.
The effort begins tomorrow, when the ministry, in association with pharmaceutical maker Roche, begins distributing information about the potentially fatal disease and how early detection can save lives.
According to ministry statistics, 20.6 percent of the Kingdom’s female population is in danger of contracting breast cancer. Breast cancer can affect anyone from the age of 12-50.
Although it usually affects women, men also can be affected. Symptoms include a lump of an area of thickening tissue or even a dimple on the breast. With early detection through breast examination, the survival rate is high; if left unchecked the disease can spread through the body, resulting in death.
Ministry spokesperson Dr. Mohammad Marghalani said the campaign includes a variety of specialists and consultants from across the Makkah Province. There also will be a conference to educate participants who will be encouraged to disseminate the information to the largest number of people possible.
Information also will be spread through brochures and an advertising campaign in the media.
Dr. Marghalani said the campaign will be repeated throughout the Kingdom.
“It will help educate women and encourage them to seek help as soon as the disease is discovered,” he said.
“This type of disease can be identified if a person gets an X-ray on which even the slightest change in tissue that can later become cancer can be detected.”
