KUWAIT: The officials attend the press conference where the awareness campaign was announced. —Photos by Abdellatif Sharaa

KUWAIT: The National Campaign for Cancer Awareness (Cancer Aware Nation) launched its prostate cancer campaign on Sunday under the patronage of Director General of Kuwait Ports Authority Sheikh Yousuf Abdullah Sabah Al-Nasser Al-Sabah. The ceremony was attended by CAN Chairman Dr Rasheed Al-Hamad, Deputy Chairman Dr Khalid Al-Saleh, Dr Hassan Dhahi and Dr Ahmad Raghib.

Dr Khalid said prostate cancer is an affliction that threatens men over 50 years old, and it can be totally cured if discovered early. "If we are able to expand the range of knowledge and awareness, we can save many people and have a high percentage of healed persons," he said. Dr Khalid said prostate cancer is among the top 10 cancers that affect Kuwaitis and non-Kuwaitis, although Kuwaitis top the list of those affected with it, while non-Kuwaitis are fourth. He said this is due to the age factor, as most expats in Kuwait are young. He said prostate cancer, like all types of the disease, has a hereditary link as well as genetic structure, adding that an average of 90 to 100 cases are discovered in Kuwait annually.

Sheikh Yousuf thanked the doctors for their efforts. "We need laws and legislations to compel individuals to go for checkups and tests, similar to premarital tests," he said. He called for monitoring the medical histories of citizens and expats in Kuwait,  arguing that the legislative side is more important than the medical one, because saving a person is not only his concern, but of the entire family that he cares for. Moreover, early discovery saves the state budget a lot of funds too, Sheikh Yousuf said.

By Abdellatif Sharaa