Why is breast cancer the most prevalent in Lebanon?

After a WHO report recently indicated that breast cancer incidence rates in Lebanon were the highest among West Asian countries in relation to population size (18.6% of the total new 3219 incidences (https://goo.gl/VBfxpU), An Nahar newspaper today asked why breast cancer is the most prevalent in the country. On the subject, Professor, head of AUBMC division of hematology/oncology, Dr. Nagi Saghir, pointed to a remarkable increase in breast cancer incidence rate, not only in Lebanon, but also globally. He said the WHO report is a warning signal on the gravity of the health reality at a global level. Saghir outlined several factors that are responsible for increasing the risk of cancer, notably: smoking, pollution, unhealthy and poor diet, lack of exercise and physical activity, overweight and certain infections. Breast cancer, Saghir said, tops the list of cancerous diseases in Lebanon, representing 35% to 40% of cancer incidences among women, warning that women under 40 are now facing cancer. Early diagnosis of cancer is a major breast cancer early detection strategy, he said. (An Nahar, October 17, 2018)

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