Al-Saleh: Prostate cancer is the second most common tumor in Kuwait

Dr. Khaled Al-Saleh, Chairman of the Campaign’s Board of Directors, affirmed that the launch of the campaign extends the mission of “KAN” to promote health culture and reinforce concepts of prevention and early detection. He noted that prostate cancer is a tumor that warrants special attention, given the link between rising incidence rates and aging, as well as the importance of raising awareness among men, particularly older age groups.

Al-Saleh explained that the campaign’s slogan, “Know... Be Reassured,” reflects the importance of knowledge as the first step toward health reassurance, through understanding the disease, risk factors, and potential symptoms, and avoiding hesitation in consulting a specialist physician. He added that prostate cancer ranks second among the most common cancers in men in Kuwait, underscoring the need to intensify awareness efforts to reach the broadest possible segment of society.

He pointed out that, according to the latest statistics from the Epidemiology and Cancer Registry Department at the Kuwait Cancer Control Center for 2022, 77 new cases of prostate cancer were recorded among Kuwaiti males out of a total of 478 cancer cases, representing approximately 10.9 percent of all cases. Among non-Kuwaiti males, 73 new cases were recorded out of a total of 475 cancer cases, accounting for 10.4 percent.

He emphasized that these figures highlight the importance of continuing awareness efforts and encouraging men, especially as they age, to take care of their health and consult specialists to discuss appropriate screenings, including the Prostate-Specific Antigen (PSA) test. He noted, however, that the decision to undergo screening and the interpretation of its results should be made in consultation with a specialist physician, taking into account age, medical history, and risk factors.

He further noted that the prostate cancer awareness campaign during November includes a range of awareness activities and events, such as lectures, exhibitions in hospitals and health centers, dissemination of awareness materials via social media platforms, and distribution of brochures and educational publications, all aimed at delivering health messages to various segments of society.

Al-Saleh concluded by stressing that enhancing awareness of prostate cancer is a shared responsibility, and that knowledge, health attention, and taking the initiative to consult specialists are crucial steps toward early detection and optimal management of the disease. He reiterated his call for men not to neglect their health and to engage with the campaign’s messages under the slogan “Know... Be Reassured.”