Medical Oncology Department within Sheikh Jaber Al Ahmad Al Jaber Al Sabah Hospital and Novartis Unite for Breast Cancer Awareness in Kuwait

Initiative aimed to raise awareness on the importance of regular screening and early detection, while empowering women with crucial information to take charge of their own health.

October 2023; Kuwait City, Kuwait

To commemorate Breast Cancer Awareness Month, the Medical Oncology department within Sheikh Jaber Al Ahmad Al Jaber Al Sabah Hospital collaborated with Novartis for a dedicated breast cancer awareness day. The initiative aimed to underscore the importance of early screening and detection in the battle against breast cancer.

As part of the awareness day, the medical oncology department offered educational resources and information to women of all age groups. Novartis joined the effort to provide valuable information on the importance of early awareness and share educational materials to support women navigating a diagnosis.

The collaboration not only ensured that a large number of women gained vital knowledge about breast cancer but also served as an educational platform for all women, empowering them with crucial information to support their healthcare decisions.

“Early detection is key to the successful treatment of breast cancer,” said Dr. Faisal Alterkait, MedicalConsultant Oncologist at KCCCHead of Medical oncology department at Jaber al- Ahmad hospital, Kuwait. “That’s why we encourage women over the age of 40 to get regular mammograms, even if they have no symptoms. Mammograms can detect breast cancer early, when it is most treatable.”

Breast cancer is the most common cancer among women in Kuwait, accounting for over 39% of all new cancer cases in 2020. According to the International Agency for Research on Cancer (IARC), the five-year prevalence of breast cancer is 169 cases per 100,000 women.

Rabab Munir, Country Head, Kuwait at Novartis said that breast cancer is a global challenge, but it is one that we can overcome through collaboration. “At Novartis, we are committed to working with healthcare partners like the medical oncology department within Sheikh Jaber Al Ahmad Al Jaber Al Sabah Hospital to raise awareness about breast cancer, promote early detection, and provide personalized treatment to all patients affected by the disease. Working together, we can help all women live longer, healthier lives,” Munir said.

The breast cancer awareness day comes one year after Sheikh Jaber Al Ahmad Al Jaber Al Sabah Hospital opened its Oncology Unit, which the hospital intends to continually expand to be a leading oncology facility in Kuwait. It marks a significant step towards addressing the breast cancer burden in Kuwait and improving the outcomes for breast cancer patients.