Novartis Oncology holds seminar on Breast Cancer in Aqaba

The seminar, held at the Aqaba Movenpick hotel, is a continuation of Novartis Oncology's ongoing efforts to elevate the status of healthcare services offered in Jordan. It is important to note that prior to this seminar, Novartis Oncology also organized the highly successful 1st Levant Breast Cancer Summit. The summit, held earlier this month in Amman, was attended by over 100 oncologists from Jordan, Lebanon, Syria, Palestine, and Iraq.

The summit highlighted Novartis Oncology's position as a pioneering provider of healthcare solutions in the field of oncology both globally and regionally.

The Aqaba Seminar was attended by 950 women from the South of Jordan. Topics discussed during its proceedings revolved around the spread of Breast Cancer in Jordan, and diagnostic practices.

Speaking at the seminar, Dr. Sami Al-Khatib, Chief Arab Oncology/Hematology expert said, "Breast Cancer is a fatal disease that is widely spread in Jordan. People and especially women need to be aware of the precautionary measures they need to take for early diagnosis. Spreading awareness is not a responsibility that falls on women alone, but rather on all sectors of the community. Men as well as women have a responsibility to encourage family members and friends to perform regular check ups at home, and to even visit the Hussein Cancer Center were check ups are performed free of charge. Awareness of this disease needs to be spread by all relevant parties and organizations."

Dr Al-Khatib, further added that according to the National Cancer Registry, the number of breast cancer patients in Jordan amounts to 32% of the kingdom's total number of cancer patients. He went on to say that an average of 500 new Breast Cancer patients are diagnosed in Jordan every year, and that this figure is relatively high when compared to the overall size of the population.

Commenting on the reasons behind the organization of this event, Mr. Osama Breiwish, Business Unit Head at Novartis Oncology, said," We at Novartis Oncology are happy to see that a great number of individuals are showing more and more interest in our topic of discussion, for this topic is one that is of great importance especially since it is relevant to all members of society regardless of which socio-economic group they belong to.

On this occasion, we thank the Aqaba Economic Authority Commission, and the Jordanian Women's Association of Aqaba for helping us make this event a success. Based on the positive feedback we gained from this attempt we are planning to organize lectures in other districts across the kingdom in the near future."