'Health': 418 Early Breast Cancer Cases Detected from 46,000 Screenings - Sarmad
Dr. Latifa Al-Kandari, Head of Diagnostic Radiology at Al-Adan Hospital, confirmed the detection of 418 early breast cancer cases among 46,225 screenings, while Dr. Khaled Al-Saleh, Chairman of the Board of Directors of the Cancer Control Association, emphasized the importance of prevention and avoiding risk factors during
Translated by Qiyas from سرمد — Original source
Dr. Latifa Al-Kandari, head of the Diagnostic Radiology Department at Al-Adan Hospital, revealed that the National Early Detection Program for Breast Cancer conducted 46,225 screenings, resulting in the detection of 418 cancer cases, all among women who showed no symptoms of the disease.
She explained that the program targets Kuwaiti women aged 40 to 69 who are asymptomatic, and appointments can be made through the “Sahl” or “Salim” apps. She emphasized that early detection aims to identify the disease before a palpable lump appears.
For his part, Dr. Khaled Al-Saleh, chairman of the board of directors of the Kuwait Cancer Control Society, stressed that avoiding risk factors contributes to preventing one-third of cancer cases, noting that prevention and awareness are two fundamental pillars in reducing incidence rates and saving lives.
This came during the 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 (KANC) via Zoom, as part of its 15th annual breast cancer awareness initiative. The event featured a panel of leading physicians and consultants and was moderated by Dr. Hessa Al-Shahin, a member of the campaign’s board of directors.
Dr. Al-Saleh clarified that avoiding four major risk factors can reduce cancer incidence by 37%. He pointed out that smoking is responsible for 80% of lung cancer cases, and that the human papillomavirus (HPV) vaccine reduces cervical cancer by approximately 90%, according to international studies.
He underscored the importance of prevention, correcting misconceptions, and early detection, noting that survival rates in the early stages can reach 100% in some cases, compared to 33% to 37% in advanced stages. He urged women over 40 not to hesitate in undergoing mammography screening, especially if they have a family history of the disease, adding that Kuwait recommends screening every two years.
