2016 National Campaign: 1800 breast cancer cases each year

The 15th edition of the National Breast Cancer Awareness Campaign 2016 which is organized by ‎the ministry of public health kicks off today under the slogan ‘You never forget anything, yet ‎you might forget the X-Ray, remember it once a year’. On the overall number of female breast ‎cancer patients, the director of Naef Bassil Cancer Institute (NKBCI) at the American University ‎of Beirut Medical Center (AUBMCP), Dr. Naji Saghir, said there are nearly 1800 cases each ‎year, describing the number as alarming and likely to rise. He also voiced concern over the age of ‎the patients as compared to other countries in the region and the world, mentioning that over ‎‎50% of cases are now happening in women under fifty years of age against a 25% limit in Europe ‎and the United States. Saghir however expressed hope for an increased early detection of breast ‎cancer and a corresponding fall in the advanced stages from nearly 80% to 35% which reflects ‎the positive response of patients to treatment. Saghir attributed the level of improvement to the ‎various awareness campaigns that are no longer restricted to the National Day for Cancer ‎Prevention which tours the different Lebanese areas to conduct the necessary screening tests. In ‎conclusion, Saghir drew attention to an important development, which is “adjusting the ‎radiography tests in such that every clinic, association or center are now announcing they have ‎access to the required mammography imaging technology. (Al Akhbar, September 29, 2016)‎