The Ministry of Health is in the process of implementing a recommendation that will make it mandatory for all female government employees over the age of 40 to have mammography tests. Mammography screening is an x-ray picture of the breast. Screening mammograms are used to check for breast cancer in women who have no signs or symptoms of the disease, while diagnostic mammograms are used to check for breast cancer after a lump or other sign or symptom of the disease has been found. The ministry has adopted the new measure on the basis of a report which shows that more women are getting breast cancer. A number of oncologists and radiologists at a conference in the Eastern province Thursday said that early detection was vital to tackle the disease. The conference was organized by the Saudi Cancer Association and entitled “Two minutes can save your life”. In her address to the conference, Dr. Iman Baroom, Head of the Central Coordination Unit for Early Detection of Cancer in Jeddah, said the awareness campaigns had helped to increase awareness by 80 percent. She said the awareness campaigns over 58 days, tested 1,167 women in Jeddah. A total of seven were found to have breast cancer. She said certain cosmetics, personal care products and detergents can cause cancer, genetic damage and biological mutations. Dr. Faten Al-Tahan, Breast Radiologist at King Abdul Aziz Medical City in Riyadh, said there was a shortage of experts and specialists in radiology. There was also inadequate training of medical personnel. Dr. Fatima Al-Mellhim, Head of the Radiology Department at the Educational Hospital in Al-Khobar, said it was important for the ministry to work with civil society institutions to tackle the disease. She said advanced countries attach great importance to awareness campaigns. Early detection could lead to100 percent recovery. Dr. Ahmad Al-Nami, Head of the Radiology Department at Asir Hospital, said the first medical survey conducted on 500 women in Abha showed that seven women have symptoms of breast cancer which was a very high percentage. He said 200 beds have been set aside at Al-Faisal Medical City in Abha for cancer patients. They will not need to travel to Riyadh or Jeddah for treatment. Dr. Ibrahim Al-Shenabir, consultant oncologist and chairman of the Eastern Province cancer conference, said he hopes 100,000 women take the tests next year in the Kingdom. __
