Saudi Gazette report

JEDDAH — The International Medical Center (IMC) here organized a breast cancer awareness and early detection drive under the theme “You Are Brave” between Oct. 22 and 24 at the hospital’s headquarter in Al-Ruwais District. IMC had invited women aged 40 years and above and conducted free of charge mammograms for early detection as per the medical recommendation after the initial screening during the drive.

In a statement, the IMC said the drive aimed at increasing awareness of women about the importance of undergoing early breast screening to identify any possible symptoms of breast cancer. It also helped women aware of the most important risk factors, the best nutrition programs and the prime causes of the disease. Treatment, prevention, and the basic principles of self-examination were explained during the drive.

The IMC ran free check-ups for a certain number of women, organized awareness-raising lectures, and distributed pamphlets stressing the importance of early examination as well as the causes of breast cancer and ways for prevention.

“The IMC gives special attention to these drives because they raise public awareness of healthcare issues and accurately describe the meaning of the proverb ‘prevention is better than cure’, said Dr. Waleed Ahmed Fitaihi, chairman of the IMC Board.

“The drive comes in line with IMC corporate social responsibility which attaches great importance to women health and regards it as a top IMC priority. We focus on educating women about the ways that prevent cancer and urge them to undergo early cancer detection exam because it is important. Cancer is very common among women in Saudi Arabia,” explained Dr. Fitaihi, who called upon women to undergo the check-ups free of charge.

The drive coincided with the “Pink Month”, which is October, when the public gets educated about breast cancer.

Most of breast cancer cases in the Kingdom are detected at an advanced stage because the patient delays taking early detection examination and assumes that absence of symptoms meant there was no cancer, noted Dr. Fitaihi.

He concluded that the drive comes in line with the Ministry of Health’s campaign coinciding with the Pink Month. The ministry, he said, exerts great efforts to protect public health of all members of society, improve their lifestyles and alleviate the suffering of patients. The ministry’s initiatives fall in line with the National Transformation Program and Vision 2030, Dr. Fitaihi said, wishing everyone good health.