MOH News

Vice Minister of Health Launches the National Campaign for Breast Cancer Awareness
21 October 2014
On behalf of HE the Acting Minister of Health, Eng. Adel Faqih, HE the Vice Minister of Health for Health Affairs, Dr. Mansour Al-Howasi launched Yesterday (Monday) evening the National Campaign for Breast Cancer Awareness, at Hayat Mall Commercial Center.
 
The campaign aims at reducing the incidence of breast cancer in the Kingdom, raising awareness of the causes of breast cancer, ways of prevention and the early detection of the disease through the self-examination and mammogram screening. The campaign targets women over 40 years and those having a family history of the disease or a previous incidence of ovarian cancer.
 
The Director-General of the Hereditary and Chronic Diseases Control, Dr. Mohammed Sa'eedi, explained that the awareness campaign at Hayat Mall Commercial Center and Panorama Commercial Center in Riyadh came in the context of a set of integrated and harmonious activities to be launched in all cities and provinces under the theme: "Reassure Us about You," and will include many activities with the aim of raising awareness about the risks of breast cancer and ways of prevention through the early detection. He went on saying that the program will provide free screenings using mammogram technology through fixed and mobile clinics distributed in a number of commercial centers and health centers.
 
He added that the said events came in the context of educating women and the community in general about the importance of early detection, which has rescued thousands of cases following the detection of the onset of the disease at early stages, and helped them to get recovered, pointing that one in every eight women is vulnerable to breast cancer for some time in her life. Early detection raises the chances of full recovery by 97%. In the same context, within the framework of the Breast Cancer Awareness Month 2014, the Ministry of Health (MOH) has launched the health education events through the MOH's Media and Health Awareness Center, via the toll free number: 8002494444, under the theme: "Reassure Us about You".
 
Dr. Sa'eedi said that there are many factors which increase the likelihood of having breast cancer, including the genetic, hormonal and environmental factors, pointing out that the symptoms of the disease are not necessarily accompanied by pain or overt health problems at their first appearance, but with the progress of the disease the symptoms may include lumps in the breast, a change in the size or shape of the skin, or the color of the breast, a feeling of a lump or sickness in the skin, and chapped or reddish skin similar to the texture of an orange peel, and bloody discharge from the nipples, in addition to a change in the shape of the nipple (inverted or retracted).
 
He went on saying that there are other factors which may increase the risk of breast cancer, such as aging, menopause, medical history of the breast cancer, family history of breast cancer, exposure to radiation, obesity, delayed childbearing and hormone therapy after menopause. He indicated that the early detection depends on three methods including the monthly self-examination of the woman's breast, examination by the doctor and the radiation screening using the mammogram technology, which is adopted in many medically developed countries, pointing out that the treatment is determined by the doctor in accordance to the type and stage of the tumor, in addition to the general health level of the patient. It might require surgical intervention to get rid of the tumor, chemotherapy which uses drugs to kill the cancer cells, radiotherapy by using high energy rays such as x-rays, and hormone therapy.
 
Speaking of the means of prevention, Dr. Sa'eedi underscored the importance of conducting periodic medical examinations to detect the breast cancer, such as clinical breast examination, x-rays and mammogram screenings which help you to better understand any changes on your breast and detect any abnormal changes, as well as regular exercises seven days a week for 30 minutes a day, and avoiding hormone therapy after menopause without consulting your doctor, not to forget maintaining a healthy weight, avoiding fats in food, and keeping away from the stress of daily life by practicing favorite hobbies .
 



Last Update : 23 October 2014 10:55 AM
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