Kuwait registers an average of 400 new breast cancer cases every year, reports Al-Seyassah daily quoting tumor treatment consultant at Kuwait Cancer Control Center Dr Saleh Fayaz.
Speaking to reporters at the periphery of a seminar organized Saturday by the Hayat Committee, which is affiliated to Raqirah Abdul-Wahab Al-Qattami Charity, to mark the World Breast Cancer Day, Fayaz expressed concern on the rising number of breast cancer cases in the country.

Members of the diplomatic corps, along with Hayat Committee member Dr Labebah Tamim — a breast cancer survivor, and other prominent personalities attended the seminar.

During the seminar, Fayaz delivered a lecture on the early detection of breast cancer.  He stressed the need to intensify efforts in organizing public awareness campaigns to increase the survival rate and avoid a series of treatments like surgery, radiology or chemotherapy, which have many side effects.  He pointed out early detection can save the country huge amount of money, disclosing a survivor spent KD 800 every three weeks within a year of treatment, while some medicines cost about KD 1,000 to KD 2,000.

Meanwhile, Minister of Health Dr Hilal Al-Sayer responded to MP Ali Al-Deqbasi’s questions on hepatitis C and the use of anti-HCV tests in its diagnosis among the expatriate personnel.

The GCC nations in 2001 passed a decree mandating tests in Hepatitis C before granting residence permits to expatriates, reports Al-Qabas daily.

According to Al-Sayer, PCR tests are used in the treatment of hepatitis C, which is also applied to ascertain the patient’s response to treatment. He stressed that the period of treatment is 9 months depending on several factors, which includes the level of infection.

He also said doctors determine the period of treatment based on the outcome of periodic tests and diagnosis. He noted Hepatitis C patients can not donate blood or organs for transplant.