CAN breast cancer awareness workshop: 46,225 tests in national program reveal 418 asymptomatic cases

Dr. Khaled Al-Saleh, Chairman of the Board of Directors of the Kuwait Cancer Control Society, affirmed that one-third of cancer cases could be prevented if people avoid risk factors, emphasizing that awareness has scientifically proven its ability, in some cases, to achieve what treatment alone cannot.

This statement was made during a workshop titled “The Impact of Awareness in Reducing the Suffering of Breast Cancer Patients and Enhancing Early Detection and Quality of Life,” organized by the National Cancer Awareness Campaign “Kaan” via Zoom, as part of its 15th consecutive year of breast cancer awareness initiative. The session was moderated by Dr. Hessa Al-Shahin, a member of Kaan’s Board of Directors and head of the breast cancer awareness initiative, with the participation of a distinguished group of physicians and consultants.

Dr. Al-Saleh added that risk factors fall into two categories: those that cannot be avoided, such as age and genetics, and those that can be avoided, such as habits, diet, and viruses. He noted that avoiding the four main risk factors reduces incidence by 37%, and that World Health Organization studies have identified approximately 30 avoidable causes. He pointed out that smoking is responsible for 80% of lung cancer cases, and highlighted that the human papillomavirus (HPV) vaccine led to the disappearance of approximately 90% of cervical cancer cases in studies conducted in Asian countries and Sweden.

He clarified that awareness efforts are based on three approaches: preventing risk factors, correcting misconceptions propagated by media over decades that instilled fear and terror about the disease, and promoting early detection. He explained that tangible symptoms place responsibility on the woman herself, noting that survival rates in the early stage can reach 100%, particularly for non-invasive cancers, compared to approximately 33% to 37% in late stages.

He stressed that in a study involving more than 400 patients, 16% of those who delayed seeking medical advice for more than three months experienced delayed treatment, attributing this to fear ingrained by media. He called on all women over the age of 40, especially those with a close relative who has had cancer, not to hesitate in undergoing mammography, clarifying that Kuwait recommends it every two years, and that undergoing it only once in a lifetime is a misconception.

He added that Kuwait’s healthcare system provides screening programs for breast, colon, and rectal cancers, in addition to cervical smears and prostate exams. He noted that research has reached the level of detecting cancer cell DNA in the blood, which may enable early disease detection in the future. He recommended linking awareness with preventive services, appointment booking, referrals, and measuring behavioral change, emphasizing that prevention is the core of disease management.

For her part, Dr. Maha Al-Sunaidi, an oncology consultant at the Bahrain Cancer Center, affirmed that approximately half of patients in the Gulf are diagnosed at an advanced stage, despite survival rates in the early stage exceeding 95%. She stressed that cancer appears in the Gulf at least ten years earlier than in Western countries, with an average diagnosis age of around 45. She noted that Kuwait had the highest cancer diagnosis rates in the Gulf in 2024 across all types, and ranked second in breast cancer cases after the United Arab Emirates.

Dr. Al-Sunaidi pointed out that the Gulf relies on four awareness models: pink caravans, lighting landmarks in October, government screening campaigns, and patient associations that break the stigma. She explained that successful initiatives link awareness with quick access to screening appointments, involve survivors in sharing their stories, and engage leaders and media.

She highlighted that Bahrain reduced late-stage diagnoses by linking campaigns to screening centers and measuring annual attendance. She called for year-round awareness rather than limiting it to October, and for measuring attendance and sharing diagnosis stage data among regional countries.

For her part, Dr. Latifa Al-Kandari, head of the Diagnostic Radiology Department at Al-Adan Hospital, revealed that the National Early Detection Program for Breast Cancer identified 418 cancer cases, all asymptomatic, among 46,225 examinations conducted so far. She added that the number of examinations rose from 2,952 in 2014–2015 to 3,945 the following year, and then to 6,091 last year, noting that the number of detected cases was 26, 57, and 39, respectively.

She clarified that the program targets Kuwaiti women aged 40 to 69 who are asymptomatic, provided they have not undergone a screening examination within the previous 12 months. Pregnant and breastfeeding women, as well as those with a history of cancer within the past five years, are excluded. Appointments can be made through the “Sahl” or “Salim” applications. She emphasized that breast cancer may begin in its early stages without any symptoms, and that early detection involves searching for it before a lump becomes palpable. She noted that mammography is followed by ultrasound for dense breasts, and magnetic resonance imaging (MRI) and biopsy may be required subsequently.