Kuwait Women's Cancer Center: "My Dear... With Early Detection, Your Journey Is Safe"

Dr. Khalid Al-Khalidi, Director of the Kuwait Cancer Control Center, told Al-Jarida that the incidence rate reaches approximately 70.1 cases per 100,000 population annually, compared to about 17 cases for colon cancer. He emphasized the importance of early detection and diagnosis in the initial stages of the disease, noting that this raises the cure rate to over 90 percent.

Al-Khalidi announced the organization of an event to celebrate Pink October on the first day of the month, under the patronage of Dr. Mohammed Al-Rashidi, Director of the Sabah Specialized Medical District. He noted that the event coincides with global Breast Cancer Awareness Month celebrations, which this year are held under the theme “My Dear... With Early Detection, Your Journey is Safe.”

Regarding therapeutic advancements, he confirmed the availability of new drugs specifically designed for certain types of breast cancer, whose suitability for individual patients is carefully assessed. He highlighted the Ministry’s commitment to providing the latest drugs and treatments as soon as they are approved and certified by the global Food and Drug Administration.

As for modern surgical techniques, the Center’s Director pointed out that one of the most significant developments focuses on reassessing the need for axillary lymph node dissection, particularly given that such procedures can lead to certain complications. He explained that the aim is to reduce the number of lymph nodes removed, thereby helping to minimize complications. He also noted that these approaches may evolve in the future to eliminate the need for lymph node removal in some cases, in accordance with medical standards. He confirmed that a special marker is placed on the affected lymph nodes so they can be removed after the completion of chemotherapy, “ensuring that only the cancerous cells are excised.”