DAMMAM — The Saudi Cancer Foundation (SCF) has launched its cancer awareness campaign for the fifth year, Al-Hayat newspaper reported. The campaign will utilize two mammogram screening mobile vehicles for the first time. If the disease is detected at an early stage, the chances of recovery are 98 percent, the SCF said.



The last campaign last year covered various cities and governorates in the Eastern Province through activities, lectures, and medical awareness to educate the public on preventive methods, especially for women over 40.



The head of the X-ray section at King Fahd University Hospital, and head of the campaign, Dr. Fatimah Al-Melhem, said that these campaigns have achieved great results in detecting the disease early.



Breast cancer, Dr. Al-Melhem said, is prevalent among women in the Kingdom and it represents 28 percent of all cancer cases in adults.



The Eastern Province has registered the highest rate of breast cancer cases in the Kingdom, followed by Riyadh and Makkah, she said, adding there are 22 cases of cancer for each 100,000 people. This is a low percentage compared to that of neighboring countries; 53 in Bahrain, 48 in Qatar, 46 in Kuwait, and 23 in the United Arab Emirates.



The CEO of SCF in the Eastern Province, Dr. Abdulaziz Al-Turki. said these campaigns were successful in the early detection of many breast cancer cases, and that the fifth campaign will seek to reach a larger segment of society. — SG