The One Million and One Flower campaign by Zahra Breast Cancer Association for mobile clinics will soon be launched across the Kingdom. As part of the campaign, first of its kind in the Kingdom, the association plans to send vehicles to several remote regions of the country in order to make women aware of breast cancer and to offer them free checkups. The program aims to provide three mobile clinics equipped with latest equipment. The project is estimated to cost SR20 million. The association also organized a charity event to raise money to treat the needy women with breast cancer. Members of Zahra association handed out brochures and sold several items carrying its logo. A variety of items were on display at the stall. Early detection of the disease has cured 97 percent of women. Among different parts of the Kingdom, the Eastern Province comes first in the percentage of women diagnosed with breast cancer with 21.2 percent. Next comes Riyadh with 19.9 percent. Then come Madina and Makkah both with 16 percent. Among the incurable causes of breast cancer is sex, age, inheritance, previous diagnosis with breast cancer and menstruation (if it started before the age of 12 years and does not stop before 55). Other curable factors are late pregnancy and using contraception without prescription, obesity, a diet full of animal fat, lack of exercise and the misuse of anti-perspirations. – SG Symptoms of breast cancer • A lump in the breast or armpit. • Pain or obvious shrinking of the nipple. • Change in the size or shape of the breast. • Bleeding of the nipple. • Change in the color or texture of the skin around the nipple, such as wrinkling or redness. Such signs are not enough to diagnose the disease, for most tumors are mild. Visiting the doctor, nonetheless, becomes the most important step in the process of checking and going into therapy.
