JEDDAH — More than 1,500 international and local oncology specialists are expected to participate in the seventh International Conference on Breast Cancer, hosted in Saudi Arabia by Health Affairs at the Ministry of National Guard and the Saudi Society of Oncology in Jeddah. The conference takes place on Oct. 24 – 25 at the Intercontinental Hotel. The Head of the Scientific Committee at Princess Noorah Oncology Center at King Abdulaziz Medical City, Dr. Meteb Al-Foheidi said that the conference will help shed light on this disease, which has become widespread in the Kingdom. "Many do not deal with it very seriously, and as a healthcare organization, it is our duty to spread awareness among the community of the seriousness of breast cancer, and to update doctors knowledge by incorporating current guidelines and recent data on local therapies into the treatment of patients with breast cancer, Al-Foheidi said. Over 30 working papers and workshops are included in the conference, and will focus on medical, surgical, and radiation oncologists interested in the treatment of patients with breast cancer. King Abdulaziz Medical City also launched a breast cancer awareness campaign for October under the slogan "prevention is the objective". Al-Foheidi said that the campaign aims to identify breast cancer, promote breast self-examination, the importance of the follow-up with the physician after the end of treatment, mammogram screening, and address common misconceptions about this disease. Breast cancer is considered the most common type of cancer among females. More than 1 million cases of breast cancer are diagnosed each year, and many die from this disease according to WHO latest statistics. No one knows why some women get breast cancer, but there are a number of risk factors. Increased age is a risk factor for the disease, as are the genes BRCA1 and BRCA2. Women who have family members with breast or ovarian cancer should be tested. Other risks include obesity, using hormone replacement therapy (also called menopausal hormone therapy), taking birth control pills, drinking alcohol, not having children or having your first child after age 35 or having dense breasts. Symptoms of breast cancer may include a lump in the breast, a change in size or shape of the breast, or discharge from a nipple. Breast self-exam and mammography can help find breast cancer early when it is most treatable. Treatment may consist of radiation, lumpectomy, mastectomy, chemotherapy and hormone therapy. Men can also have breast cancer, but the number of cases is small.
