October is observed as International Breast Cancer Awareness month, and it is important to realize that the fight to combat this disease is far from over. In 1985, October first became recognized as “Breast Cancer Awareness Month.” Since then, the United States has devoted considerable resources towards efforts to increase awareness, education, and funding for breast cancer treatment. Today, countries throughout the world, including Saudi Arabia, recognize October as “Breast Cancer Awareness Month” and work as global partners toward raising awareness and sharing expertise in this field. The partnerships established between Saudi Arabia and the United States continue to be a role model for other countries in the global effort to raise awareness, detection and research in this field. We applaud the successful efforts of Custodian of the Two Holy Mosques, King Abdullah Bin Abdul Aziz and those of the citizens of Saudi Arabia, who continue to make important advances toward combating breast cancer. As breast cancer is an issue that affects not only women, but also men, families, and friends across the globe, it is vital for us to continue to work together to make advances in terms of awareness, prevention, and treatment. Since my arrival to the Kingdom a little over a year ago, I have been touched by the community involvement in the fight against this terrible disease. In Qassim, women took an unprecedentedly strong stand in this campaign by participating in the first organized population-based screening program in Saudi Arabia. The program, run by the local health department in cooperation with the King Abdul Aziz Women's Charity Committee, employed a mobile mammography van to reach remote areas in the province to discuss the issue of breast cancer, not only with women, but also with male family members as well as conduct screening. I know that this is not an easy topic to discuss in any society, but I applaud those who took a stand early on to raise awareness of this issue. Saudi involvement in this fight didn't stop there. The country as a whole has made its commitment to fighting breast cancer abundantly clear. It is as clear as the pink hues atop Faisaliah Tower and Kingdom Center, the pink ribbons worn by Saudia flight attendants, the campaign for the largest living pink ribbon in the world to be held in Jeddah. These efforts remind us all that Saudi Arabia has a strong role to play in this struggle and remains dedicated to defeating this terrible scourge plaguing all humanity. The World Health Organization estimates that each year 1.2 million people are diagnosed with cancer worldwide. As breast cancer is the most common form of cancer in the Kingdom of Saudi Arabia, the Kingdom continues to work with the global community, making great strides to fight this disease. As part of the ongoing breast cancer initiatives in the Kingdom of Saudi Arabia, King Abdulaziz University in 2009 established the first center of excellence for breast cancer in the region and this past summer held a historic gathering of medical providers, medical students and public health officials at the first Multidisciplinary Approach to Breast Cancer Course. The course was co-sponsored by Breast Health Global Initiative Alliance and the Johns Hopkins University School of Medicine. The program offered healthcare providers from Saudi Arabia, Egypt and the region as a whole the opportunity to enhance knowledge and hands-on skills. This was not the first time leading researchers and educators from the United States and the Kingdom came together to fight this disease. In 2007 University of Texas M.D. Anderson Cancer Center partnered with King Fahad Medical City and the Saudi Cancer Society through a unique program sponsored by the US Government's Middle East Partnership Initiative. This partnership was so successful that similar programs were modeled after it in other countries in the region, including Morocco, the West Bank, and Egypt. Today, this partnership continues, as leading researchers from the two countries work collaboratively together to improve detection and ultimately find a cure for this disease. Through such partnerships and collaborative work between our two countries and the rest of the international community, we expect both the Kingdom of Saudi Arabia and the United States to continue advancing the effort to drastically reduce the number of women, men, families, and friends who are affected by this devastating disease. In President Obama's 2009 proclamation on breast cancer awareness, he stated that on this month, “we reaffirm our commitment to reduce the burden of breast cancer and our support for those who are living with this devastating disease. By raising awareness of this disease and supporting research, we can usher in a new era in our struggle against breast cancer.” As your steadfast partner, The United States stands ready to work hand in hand to win the fight against breast cancer. James B. Smith is the US Ambassador to Saudi Arabia __
