Saudi Arabia records over 21,000 residency, labor, and border violations in latest inspections    PIF seeks to expand US investments despite restrictions, says governor Al-Rumayyan Saudi sovereign fund launched 103 companies across 13 sectors, aims to attract more foreign talent to Saudi Arabia    Saudi minister holds high-level talks at FII Miami to boost AI, tech, and space partnerships    Saudi Media Forum concludes with key industry partnerships and award recognitions    Hamas hands over six Israeli captives in latest prisoner exchange    US and Ukraine near deal granting US mineral rights in exchange for military aid    Israeli forensic institute confirms remains of hostage Shiri Bibas    Australia presses China for answers over reported live-fire exercises near its coast    Al-Ettifaq stuns Al-Nassr with late winner as Ronaldo protests refereeing decisions    King Salman: Our nation's path has remained steadfast since its founding    Imam Mohammed bin Saud: The founder of the First Saudi State and architect of stability    King Abdul Aziz: Founder of the Third Saudi State and leader of modern Saudi Arabia    'Neighbors' canceled again, two years after revival    Al-Tuwaijri: Not a single day has passed in Saudi Arabia in 9 years without an achievement Media professionals urged to innovate in disseminating Kingdom's story to the world    Proper diet and healthy eating key to enjoying Ramadan fast    Saudi Media Forum panel highlights Kingdom's vision beyond 2034 World Cup    AlUla Arts Festival 2025 wraps up with a vibrant closing weekend    Al Hilal secures top spot in AFC Champions League Elite, set to face Pakhtakor in Round of 16    Al-Ettifaq's Moussa Dembélé undergoes surgery, misses rest of the season    'Real life Squid Game': Kim Sae-ron's death exposes Korea's celebrity culture    Bollywood star Saif Ali Khan 'out of danger' after attack at home in Mumbai    Order vs. Morality: Lessons from New York's 1977 Blackout    India puts blockbuster Pakistani film on hold    The Vikings and the Islamic world    Exotic Taif Roses Simulation Performed at Taif Rose Festival    Asian shares mixed Tuesday    Weather Forecast for Tuesday    Saudi Tourism Authority Participates in Arabian Travel Market Exhibition in Dubai    Minister of Industry Announces 50 Investment Opportunities Worth over SAR 96 Billion in Machinery, Equipment Sector    HRH Crown Prince Offers Condolences to Crown Prince of Kuwait on Death of Sheikh Fawaz Salman Abdullah Al-Ali Al-Malek Al-Sabah    HRH Crown Prince Congratulates Santiago Peña on Winning Presidential Election in Paraguay    SDAIA Launches 1st Phase of 'Elevate Program' to Train 1,000 Women on Data, AI    41 Saudi Citizens and 171 Others from Brotherly and Friendly Countries Arrive in Saudi Arabia from Sudan    Saudi Arabia Hosts 1st Meeting of Arab Authorities Controlling Medicines    General Directorate of Narcotics Control Foils Attempt to Smuggle over 5 Million Amphetamine Pills    NAVI Javelins Crowned as Champions of Women's Counter-Strike: Global Offensive (CS:GO) Competitions    Saudi Karate Team Wins Four Medals in World Youth League Championship    Third Edition of FIFA Forward Program Kicks off in Riyadh    Evacuated from Sudan, 187 Nationals from Several Countries Arrive in Jeddah    SPA Documents Thajjud Prayer at Prophet's Mosque in Madinah    SFDA Recommends to Test Blood Sugar at Home Two or Three Hours after Meals    SFDA Offers Various Recommendations for Safe Food Frying    SFDA Provides Five Tips for Using Home Blood Pressure Monitor    SFDA: Instant Soup Contains Large Amounts of Salt    Mawani: New shipping service to connect Jubail Commercial Port to 11 global ports    Custodian of the Two Holy Mosques Delivers Speech to Pilgrims, Citizens, Residents and Muslims around the World    Sheikh Al-Issa in Arafah's Sermon: Allaah Blessed You by Making It Easy for You to Carry out This Obligation. Thus, Ensure Following the Guidance of Your Prophet    Custodian of the Two Holy Mosques addresses citizens and all Muslims on the occasion of the Holy month of Ramadan    







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For This October: A New Kind of Breast Cancer Awareness
Published in Alriyadh on 02 - 10 - 2014

This year, October-as-breast-cancer-awareness-month seems a bit off, post-peak, tired. It's been like this for a while now, waning over years. As National Breast Cancer Awareness Month (NBCAM) ages it may appear unnecessary – as in no longer useful, unwanted, old. And I suppose it – awareness – has become that, dated. It no longer seems fresh (even with pink make-up). Rather, it comes on like a mediocre advertisement, over-played. A has-been. For those of us who advocate for the "cause" – as I see it: the need for more breast cancer research and better care for all affected – a calendar-based theme feels gimmicky and commercial, even manipulative. At best, it's useful for fundraising. In some parts of the world, including a few U.S. communities where believe-it-or-not stigma about having cancer persists, NBCAM may lead a few women who are hesitant to seek care for breast tumors to go and get it. The fact is, we're saturated, bombarded, blasted with cancer news – and often conflicting information, at that. For many people grappling with a serious disease year-round, the notion of promoting awareness for one month, and labeling it pink, verges on absurdity (or crosses that line). But not everyone feels that way. For some, cheerful walks and other activities provide an opportunity to find camaraderie and demonstrate support for those affected.
Patients have different preferences and needs; advocates have different style and priorities. The issue about October is that for all the genuine enthusiasm and generally good intentions NBCAM brings together, at some levels an uplifting vibe runs counter to the devastating nature of malignancy. But patients need support, and researchers need funds. I do think we, at a community level, still benefit from an occasional reminder that breast cancer is not a solved problem − that it's not "gone," nor cured or a condition to ignore. Rather, each year 40,000 people in the United States, mainly but not exclusively women, and over 520,000 people worldwide die from breast cancer. Today's message of awareness might adjust to the date, 2014, and shift focus: Emphasize the unmet needs of people living with metastatic breast cancer. They – whose number goes untallied even in the U.S. – go about their lives with an incurable condition; they receive treatment until death. It's not pretty. Far from it. Point to critical areas for research , including these: breast cancer's causes – that it might be prevented; metastases – that those might be prevented too, or better managed when and if they do arise; better, more effective and less harmful treatments for all molecular subtypes of the disease; improvements in pathology (diagnostics), so that patients with "slow" or minimal tumors can safely avoid overtreatment. Know that patients have options, and should be informed of those and able to ask questions of their physicians. The best medical care happens when patients participate in decisions about their care, when they're educated and can enter the doctor's office or clinic with a reasonable understanding of their condition and choices. Recognize that the world is disease-ridden. Awareness demands perspective, including the fact that breast cancer is one of many illnesses from which all kinds of people suffer and some die. Cancers do not enter contests of severity or merit. More generally, there is no international tournament of sicknesses. Each condition, every person, deserves good medical care – provided respectfully and with access to pain medication, if needed. Be aware of the day, even cloudy ones like this. Time is precious. Value what you've got.

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