Okaz/Saudi Gazette JEDDAH — Saudi Arabia has the lowest rate of breast cancer incidence in the Arab world with a total of only 1,473 confirmed patients, according to experts. The nationwide average of incidence in the Kingdom is 22 patients for every 100,000 women. In the UAE, it 23 patients for every 100,000 women, Kuwait 46 patients, Jordan 49, Qatar 48 and Bahrain 53. A source from the Ministry of Health said the statistics show that majority of breast cancer patients in the Kingdom are in the Eastern Province. "The Eastern Province has 31 patients for every 100,000 women. Makkah has 29 patients for every 100,000 women while Riyadh has 26 patients for every 100,000 women. King Abdulaziz Medical City Breast Tumors Consultant Dr. Mutib Al-Fihaidi said more and more women are recovering from breast cancer due to increasing awareness. "Early detection and checkups is key to curing breast cancer. The technology for curing breast cancer has grown much more sophisticated. Research on prevention and stem cells therapy have enabled us to target the tumor and curing without performing a discectomy," said Al-Fihaidi. About 40 percent of the patients detect the disease in its third phase and only 32 percent detect the disease in its first or second phase," said the source. The source added 32 percent of the patients detect the disease in its first or second phase. "Only 17 percent of the patients detect the disease in its fourth phase. The Kingdom has 22 breast cancer patients for every 100 women. A two-day conference on breast cancer kicked off in Jeddah on Saturday. "The conference hosts international doctors and consultants to present the latest developments in breast cancer treatment and prevention. Women are encouraged to do self-checkups on a monthly basis," said Adnan Al-Habashi, head of the Saudi Society for Tumors.
