KUWAIT: Cancer rates are on the rise around the world, a Kuwaiti specialist warned, adding that the Gulf region has the same cancer rate as global rates which stands at 102 cases for every 100,000 people. Breast cancer makes a quarter of cancer cases at the rate of 43 cases for every 100,000 people, while Kuwait is among countries with above average rates at 58.8 for every 100,000 people, said Dr Faisal Al-Tarkeet, Head of the Medical Unit of Breast Cancer and Tumors at Kuwait Cancer Control Center (KCCC).

Dr Tarkeet was speaking during the second summit for the Middle East and Africa for combating breast cancer, which was held in the United Arab Emirates (UAE). +ACI-Heart disease is the number one killer around the world, followed by the various types of cancer,+ACI- he said, adding that cancer will likely become the number one killer in several years.

High recovery rate
Breast cancer tops the list among female cancer patients worldwide, he said, adding that it is not terminal as many people think, noting that the recovery rate from breast cancer is 96 percent. In the meantime, he warned against late diagnosis, urging the public to carry out periodic testing. +ACI-People are afraid to talk about cancer because they believe it is a terminal disease, but that is mostly because they are unaware of the fact that early detection makes survival chances very high,+ACI- he indicated.
Meanwhile, Head of UAE Tumors Society Dr Hameed Al-Shamsi said although breast cancer is the most prevalent type of cancer in the Middle East, many women who are affected refrain from seeking immediate medical care, and as a result, the region is seeing an increase in the rate of late detections. +ACI-This encouraged us to create many partnerships with government and non-government institutions to design a group of programs that suit the needs of local communities to confront the worrying trends, and benefit from the rare opportunities to educate about the disease,+ACI- he said.

Pre-diabetes stage
Separately, a Kuwaiti specialist said that the pre-diabetes stage is important because there is up to 60 percent chance to prevent the disease before getting it. +ACI-The patient does not feel any symptoms and seems normal in this stage, therefore it requires close attention to save this group of patients,+ACI- Head of Kuwait Diabetes Society (KDS) Dr Waleed Al-Dhahi said.
Dr Dhahi was speaking after an awareness program on diabetes that was held for primary health care doctors. The event was organized by KDS in cooperation with the Central Department of Primary Care at the Health Ministry. +ACI-Any person with a family history with this disease, high blood pressure (hypertension), obesity or minimal physical activity must carry out blood sugar level tests periodically,+ACI- he said. Furthermore, he noted that KDS holds awareness activities throughout the year, applauding the Ministry of Health's support in that regard. +ACI-There is coordination at the highest level between the ministry and KDS, and the ministry has a major role to ensure the success of such conferences,+ACI- he indicated.

By Abdellatif Sharaa