Question

Topic: Ministry of Health take many health issue seriously such as breast cancer each year MOH has serval programs to reach community and raise awareness for people.

- Create initiatives or a plan that you believe would help to minimizes the number of cases in Saudi Arabia

- how privet and public institution can help to achieve the shared goal?

- Share the latest statistics regarding this issue globally

Answer 1

Breast cancer is the commonest female cancer and the leading cause of cancer death worldwide. There have been several factors implicated to the etiology of breast cancer, which differ for different geographical locations. These factors act independently or together to cause breast cancer. The etiological factors include: age factors, age at first birth, early menarche, gender, dietary factors, tobacco smoking, alcohol consumption, low-dose irradiation, obesity, physical activity, lactation, hormonal factors, hormone replacement therapy, steroid hormone receptors, mammographic density, benign breast disease, genetic factor and lack of awareness. These factors discussed above should be taken into consideration by the government and make a health.plan or policy which would provide healthcare education regarding each to the general population.

People should be educated about the causes and risk factors of developing breast cancer. Awareness programs must be conducted by the government . Lifestyle modification should be included in the womens of Saudi because it is another factor associated with breast cancer. Changes in food habits , Regular excersice or physical activity should be done to fight obesity. Regular exercise has been shown significant factor that is associated with decreased incidence of breast cancer in many of the studies. Hygiene maintainence. Reducing the use of hormonal contraceptives because it can cause hormonal imbalances in the body. Cessation of smoking habits .

The public and private health care organisation should work along with government in upholding the healthcare plans and policies made to overcome breast cancer . Promotion of public awareness and education about breast cancer and how to prevent it

The Saudi Arabia health council in 2014 reported that the breast cancer accounts 29% of all cancer. Few womens present with early stage of breast cancer compared to substantial proportion of women present in late state of breast cancer when the tumour becomes

The ultimate benefit will be a future dramatic decline in the morbidity and mortality of the breast cancer in KSA.

Answer 2

Ministry of health is always concerned about many serious health issues such as breast cancer, cardiac diseases, stroke, AIDS, and so on. Many plans and initiatives can minimize the number of such cases in countries like Saudi Arabia.

• HEALTH EDUCATION: Educate the people regarding the risk factors, signs, and symptoms, diagnosis, treatment options related to the disease conditions. Conduct classes for both men and women regarding various health issues such as breast cancer to make awareness.
• MEDICAL CAMPS: Conduct various health camps relate to different disease conditions in various parts of the country. So the services will be available to people from all parts of society.
• INFLUENCE BY MEDIA: Medias can play a crucial role in providing information to the public. While conducting programs related to health issues through the media, people will pay more attention towards such health issues.
• FREE HEALTH CHECKUPS: Free health check-up and screening will help more people to have an awareness of their health status. Health check-ups will help people to early diagnosis & give early treatment for their diseases. If such health check-ups conducted are free, this will reach all types of communities regardless of their income status.

Private and public institutions can work hand in hand to achieve the shared goals on these health issues such as breast cancer.

• Government and private organizations can stimulate the development of partnerships between oncology professionals.
• Improvements in the field of diagnosis of various health problems should be focused and the grant supports to the diagnostic institutions are essential.
• Public and private organizations should establish collaborative networks both locally as well as internationally to provide proper clinical care to diagnosed individuals.
• The services should be available to the public at an affordable cost.
• Public and private institutions should mainly focus on cancer screening, diagnostic imaging, interventions, surgical or medical treatments, radiation oncology, palliative care, and health education.

STATISTICS

• Diabetes, cancer, and heart diseases are collaboratively responsible for 70%of deaths globally or which is around 41 million people.
• Around 15 million people dying between their age of 30 and 69.
• Among 85% of the above-mentioned deaths are in low- and middle-income nations.
• Breast cancer is the second most common cancer in women and men worldwide.

Answer 3

Breast cancer

Breast cancer is a disease condition characterised by the cancer of breast cells. Cancer is a disease in which the cells of a tissue undergo uncontrolled often rapid proliferation.

Initiaves/ plans to minimise the number of cases in Saudi Arabia:

Saudi Arabia is a country in the Middle East, having a population of 3.29 crores ( 2017). Reports on Prevalence of breast cancer in Kingdom of Saudi Arabia ( KSA ) show that , 21.8% of female population is suffering with breast cancer. This malignancy is the 9 th leading cause of death in KSA.

An adequate health care system can prevent and control the breast cancer incidence through various initiatives, such as:

* Encourage the female population for brest self examination: especially menopausal women and those who are with the family history of breast cancer. Breast self examination may help in identifying the unusual lumps and tumours in the breast tissues .

* Public awareness regarding bresat cancer; its causes, risk factors and prevention

* Special education on brest self examination and prevention of breast cancer for women and men in domiciliary settings, companies and other areas where women come together.

* Encourage healthy lifestyle such as

- healthy eating pattern : add more fruits and vegetables into diet, avoid refined sugars and high fat food.

- weight control

- Adequate physical activity and regular exercise ( 150 minutes of moderate and 70 minutes of vigorous exercise per week)

- Avoid bad habits; alcoholism and smoking

* Teach the women and the family members regarding the triggering factors of breast cancer such as alcoholism, smoking, use of hormonal pills and contraceptive pills.

* Provide training to the public health workers and nurses for educating women regarding breast cancer and breast self examination

* Promote referral services fro primary clinics

* Encourage the early detection and treatment of breast cancer among population

* Encourage breastfeeding. It can reduce the risk of breast cancer.

Role of public and private institutions:

Government, Non- Government and private institutions can greatly help the country and the public to reduce the incidence rate f morbidity and mortality related to breast cancer. The KSA had formulated a cancer policy and laid down the objectives of controlling and reducing the prevalence of breast cancer. Public and private hospitals can work together with Government policies and can help to achieve the goal.

Hospitals can equipped with the screening facilities for identifying the breast cancer and appoint well experienced doctors and nurses and other health workers in an adequate number. Hospitals can adopt a policy of mammogram for every women, whose in the age category of 50- 70 years. Hospitals should be active in early detection and treatment of women with breast cancer. Attract and develop a positive attitude towards screening on breast cancer and reduce the cost of treatment i intervention for breast cancer. Government hospitals should provide free screening and treatment services for breast cancer. Public hospitals can train Community health workers in doing breastself examination, mammogram and other related intervention like health education. Doctors and pharmacist should give education regarding the side effects of contraceptives and hormonal pills to women.

Statistics on breast cancer

Reports show that 21.8% of female population in KSA is suffering with breast cancer problems. It is the 9th leading cause of death in the country. The Prevalence is high in divorced women. Research studies show that men also affecting with Breast cancer and the mortality risk is high in men. Alcoholism and smoking may contribute to breast cancer in men.

Answer 4

There are various factors that are associated with the prevelance of breast cancer in women. The studies show that the determinants of breast cancer in Saudi Arabia includes socioeconomic factors, health related characteristics, menstrual history etc. There are many factors that will help to minimise the breast cancer occurance in Saudi Arabia. Lack pf knowledge and awareness about breast cancer is a major issue. All the people should be educated about the risk of developing breast cancer. Awareness programs should be conducted. Obesity and food style seen in the womens of Saudi is another factor associated with breast cancer. Excersice or physical activity could be implemented to overcome obesity. Regular exercise has been shown significant factor that is associated with decreased incidence of breast cancer in many of the studies. Fast food and unhealthy foods will cause health issues. Hygiene balanced diet should be promoted. Reducing the use of hormonal contraceptives is the better option to reduce the risk of diseases. Because it can cause hormonal imbalances inthe body. Cessation of smoking habits can be adviced.

The public and private health care organisation should adopt advancement in health care system. They should take initiative to start breast cancer awareness programs in every year on awareness day.

The Saudi Arabia health council in 2014 reported that the breast cancer accounts 29% of all cancer. Few womens present with early stage of breast cancer compared to substantial proportion of women present in late state of breast cancer when the tumour becomes metastatic.