The person who enthralls the Arab world and grabs its attention is no longer the famous Arab poet Abu Al-Tayeb Al-Mutanabi, with all due apologies to him. It is rather the chest of Angelina Jolie which has deservedly taken the place of our former poet. After the famous actress took the brave decision of undergoing a mastectomy, people here seem to have no other subject to talk about. Some people admire her courage, others are neutral and a third group do not like her going public with the information. The attitudes with regard to Angelina's mastectomy differ greatly. However, one point remains in favor of the beautiful actress: her courage. Angelina took the bravest and the most dangerous decision of her life. She would not have had her breasts cut off had it not been for the gravity of her situation after doctors discovered that she carries a gene that can cause breast cancer. The possibilities of her getting breast cancer were 87 percent before the mastectomy operation. The possibilities of ovary cancer were 50 percent. This disease caused the death of her mother who was only 56 years of age when she died. Angelina has taught us a lesson which is that feminine beauty can last and be striking without breasts. She says: “I do not feel that the operation had reduced my femininity. On the contrary, I feel I am more powerful because I have exercised an important option. I revealed the news about my surgical operation so as to dispel the ambiguity which still surrounds cancer. I encourage all women to undergo early examinations and to take immediate treatment decisions.” Because she was Angelina, it grabbed global attention. There are hundreds of other women around the world who had the same disease and underwent the same operation but not much attention was given to them. Among others, these include Dr. Samia Al-Amoudi, a Saudi doctor. When she learned that she had breast cancer, Dr. Samia did not shy away from it or try to conceal it. She did not consider it a shameful thing or a sin. She researched her disease for the welfare of other women. She became a media activist to encourage women to take good care of their health. Single-handedly, Dr. Samia began to enlighten women about the risks of this disease, to encourage them to undergo early examinations and to take the proper medical treatment decisions. She wrote a weekly cultural article under the title “Love Message”. She went from one university to another, enlightening female students about breast cancer. She said: “My breast cancer is the message I deliver to every woman to ask her not to forget to have an early examination.” Dr. Samia, or the “love doctor” as I prefer to call her, has been honored internationally. She received the prize of the US Secretary of State for international courage. She was named one of the 10 bravest women in the world. Have you heard of her? If she was Angelina Al-Amoudi you would have. — Dalaa Al-Moufti is a Kuwaiti writer. She can be reached at [email protected]
