Mammogram tests for breast cancer will be offered free of charge as part of the latest phase in the nation's breast cancer awareness campaign. The fourth stage of the campaign was launched Monday at the Red Sea Mall by Princess Haifa Al-Faisal, Chairperson of the Zahra Association for Breast Cancer. The campaign includes the support of the Al-Eman Association for Cancer Patients. “We have already launched campaigns in Riyadh, Qassim and Tabuk where we received large numbers of Saudi women who wanted to have a mammogram test,” said Princess Haifa. She said the campaign is focused on Jeddah because of the large number of women who visit the city. Breast cancer is one of the most widespread cancers among Saudi women, affecting at 22 percent of the population, said Princess Haifa. “The World Health Organization (WHO) has announced that breast cancer is one of the most dangerous cancers among women, especially Saudi women,” she said. According to Princess Haifa, finding places to take the mammogram test has been difficult for many Saudi women, particularly those living in rural areas. But now the test will be available for free at entertainment areas and malls in isolated areas. “After we launched our survey in the rural areas, we successfully defined the number of cases, and then established a number of mobile clinics around the malls and entertainment areas,” said Princess Haifa. Fawzia Mehsen, a Saudi woman who was present at the launch, took the mammogram test for the first time. “This is my first time. I had heard a lot about it, but I never really understood it because of my poor education,” she said.
