Saudi Gazette Cancer is threatening the lives of many and a recent report from the World Health Organization revealed that cancer could claim the lives of four million people worldwide in the next 10 years, if appropriate attention is not given to it immediately. The incidence of malignant tumors is rapidly increasing, raising the need for more public awareness campaigns about cancer, not only on the World Cancer Day, but all year round. The director of the public health education department at King Abdullah Medical City in Makkah, Jum'ah Khayat, said, “It is the collaborative effort put together of the various hospitals, health centers, charitable organizations, and individual members of the society themselves that will be able to decrease the spread of cancer in the Kingdom. Detecting cancer in its earliest stage grants the cancer patient a 98 percent chance of successful treatment and complete recovery without recurrence. Early diagnosis may be the best preventive measure.” Another way to ward off cancer is regular exercise, which is backed by scientific findings. Khayat said that 20 minutes of physical activity such as brisk walking each day on a regular basis along with a healthy diet can substantially cut the risks of developing cancer. He also cautioned against the use of tobacco in all of its forms, including cigarette smoking, pipes, sheesha, chewing tobacco, and cigars for its proven link to cancer. Dr. Mona Basaleem, a consultant oncologist, surgeon, and head of the breast cancer surgical unit at King Fahd General Hospital in Jeddah, said that women in the Kingdom lack adequate knowledge about the risk factors and preventive measures of breast cancer, which is why she became involved in the public education activities organized by the hospital. “I advise every woman who turns 40 years of age to get a mammogram exam as it is the first line of defense in fighting breast cancer. Mammogram screening can detect the presence of breast cancer far before any symptoms or signs are apparent to the patient,” she said. Dr. Waleed Al-Omair, a physician, said, “Early detection of prostate cancer in particular plays a huge role in ensuring a positive outcome and in improving the chance of survival. Prostate cancer is fairly common in men over the age of 50 years. I recommend all men after the age of 50, to get this simple blood test: Prostate Specific Antigen (PSA) blood test every year.” __
