Health Minister: Breast cancer accounts for more than 40 percent of cancer cases among women
Kuwait - 19 - 9 (KUNA) -- Health Minister Dr. Ahmad Al-Oudai said that breast cancer accounts for more than 40 percent of registered cancer cases among women in Kuwait, with over 8,000 patients currently living with the disease and receiving treatment and follow-up care at Ministry of Health facilities.
He made these remarks in a speech delivered on Saturday at the Third Kuwait Breast Cancer Conference 2026, emphasizing that breast cancer is one of the most significant health challenges requiring a comprehensive approach.
Al-Oudai added that combating cancer requires a vision extending from awareness and early detection to diagnosis, treatment, rehabilitation, and follow-up. He noted that Kuwait has developed growing capabilities in addressing the disease over the years since the launch of the National Early Breast Disease Detection Program in 2014 and the establishment of the Rapid Diagnostic Clinic at the Kuwait Cancer Control Center in 2015, in addition to the creation of the Genetics Laboratory in 2016.
He stated that the opening of the Oncology Department at Jaber Al-Ahmad Hospital in 2022 represented a step in expanding specialized services, followed by the launch of breast cancer surgery and reconstructive services in 2022, which enhanced the integration of care and attention to functional and psychological aspects alongside disease treatment.
Al-Oudai said the Ministry has kept pace with advancements in pharmacological treatments and worked to provide modern therapeutic options, including hormonal, targeted, immunotherapies, and antibody-drug conjugates, tailored to the nature and characteristics of the disease and the clinical condition of each patient.
He explained that the Kuwait Cancer Control Center has begun implementing liquid biopsy technology to support molecular tumor analysis and utilize the results to guide treatment decisions in appropriate cases. The Center also began in 2026 preparing and conducting a clinical study in the field of breast cancer to support the development of a research environment that contributes to local knowledge production, adheres to approved scientific and ethical standards, and prioritizes the safety and rights of participants.
Minister Al-Oudai highlighted the specialized subspecialty training program in Oncology under the Kuwait Institute for Medical Specialization, supported by the Ministry of Health, which aims to develop national competencies and provide an environment enabling efficient learning, research, and scientific inquiry. Over the past five years, the program has contributed to the graduation of six oncology specialists.
He noted that the Ministry is preparing to open the new Kuwait Cancer Control Center in the Sabah Medical City, representing an expansion in the capacity to provide specialized care. Al-Oudai emphasized that the scientific value of this project will be determined by what it adds to the patient experience and treatment outcomes, including ease of access to services and the speed of completing procedures.
For his part, Conference Chair Dr. Anwar Al-Nouri said that the field of breast cancer has witnessed rapid development, whether in diagnostic and early detection methods, understanding the molecular biology of the disease, or in successive advancements in targeted, immunotherapies, and hormonal treatments, in addition to significant progress in antibody-based therapies and antibody-drug conjugates.
He affirmed that breast cancer statistics represent not only a medical challenge but also a health priority that necessitates continued investment in early detection, precise diagnosis, integrated multidisciplinary care, and access to the latest evidence-based treatments.
Al-Nouri explained that the Third Kuwait Breast Cancer Conference reaffirms the Ministry of Health’s commitment to supporting evidence-based medical practice, enhancing continuing medical education, and providing a specialized scientific platform that brings together local, regional, and international expertise to discuss the latest developments in breast cancer.
He added that the conference covered the latest developments in various stages of the disease, from early detection and diagnosis through surgical, radiation, and systemic treatments, to the most recent advancements in hormonal, targeted, and immunotherapies, antibody-conjugated measures, and biomarker-based treatments.
Al-Nouri noted that the conference provides an opportunity to review and discuss key studies and clinical trials presented during 2025 and 2026 at international scientific forums, and the potential implications of these results for current and future clinical practice.
(END) MNM / KHA
