Ibrahim M Gosadi
Jazan University, Saudi Arabia
Title: Screening for cancer in Saudi Arabia: Overview, outcomes and challenges
Biography
Biography: Ibrahim M Gosadi
Abstract
According to the Saudi Cancer Registry, most common types of cancers in Saudi Arabia are breast cancer, colorectal cancer and thyroid cancer. The Saudi Ministry of Health launched national program for early detection for breast cancer. However, the process of seeking screening for breast cancer is not clear. In a paper titled Breast cancer screening in Saudi Arabia: Free but almost no takers; it was reported that among 1135 women who were aged 50 and older, 92% of them reported never having a mammogram. Although colorectal cancer is most common type of cancer among Saudi men, currently, there is no nationwide screening program for colorectal cancer in Saudi Arabia. According to the Saudi MOH, only 9% of colorectal cancer cases are diagnosed at early stages of colorectal cancer. Despite lack of a nationwide program for colorectal cancer screening, the Saudi MOH does promote for the importance of screening for the disease. However, awareness raising efforts about colorectal cancer screening can be described as modest in comparison to breast cancer. In a sample of 2946 selected from The Saudi National Survey for Elderly Health, it was reported that utilization of colorectal cancer screening was 5.64% where less than 1% utilized colonoscopy. The low participation rates in screening for cancers in Saudi Arabia can be partially explained by extreme lack of information concerning available screening services.