A top breast cancer association in Jeddah has launched a campaign aimed at creating the largest human chain in the form of a breast cancer awareness ribbon.

“A Woman’s Stand” campaign to raise awareness about breast cancer was launched in Jeddah this summer by Princess Reema bint Bandar Bin Sultan Al Saud and Al Bidayah Center for the Zahra Breast Cancer Association.

The campaign is now calling on the women of Saudi Arabia to unite on October 28 at the Ministry of Education Sports Complex for the epical event of creating the human chain, which aims to break a record for the largest human chain for an awareness ribbon record as listed in the Guinness Book of World Records.

“We hope to raise awareness about breast cancer, its effects and causes while letting the women and families affected by this disease know that they are not alone,” said Princess Reema.

As the exclusive media-broadcast Sponsor, MBC Group will be running a number of public announcements during the day to raise awareness about the cause, inform the public about the campaign and let women of Saudi Arabia know how they can show their support.

“The number of people being affected by breast cancer is growing in Saudi,” said Dr Modi Batterjee, campaign spokesperson, volunteering for Zahra Breast Cancer Association and founding member of Al Bidayah Center.

“Even though breast cancer is affecting a significant number of the population, awareness is not where it should be. We at the Zahra Association want to work with the Saudi population to inform them and end any misconceptions or stigmas associated with this disease.”

According to the figures reported by the Saudi Cancer Registry 49 per cent of cancer cases reported in the Kingdom in 2005 were men while the other 51 per cent were women thus illustrating that this is a matter affecting both genders.

In 2005 a total of 10,513 cases of breast cancer were reported which makes breast cancer the most common form of cancer in Saudi. Even more troubling, is that 30 per cent of cases in Saudi Arabia are in women under the age of 40.

“Approximately 70 per cent of breast-cancer cases in Saudi Arabia are diagnosed when victims are in the advanced stage of the disease, which means the survival rate is lower than in nations where more cases are diagnosed early,” said Dr Muna Baslaim, a breast surgeon and head of breast unit at King Fahd General Hospital in Jeddah. – TradeArabia News Service