SURGICAL MANAGEMENT OF BREAST CANCER IN SAUDI ARABIA: A CALL FOR IMPROVEMENT

In carefully studied populations of the world, the incidenceof breast cancer among women has shown an increase of50% from 1960 to 1995. However, through screeningprograms and highly specialized, experienced multi-disciplinary teams using all modern diagnostic andtherapeutic modalities available, the mortality hasdecreased and the relative survival (at 2, 5 and 10 years)has increased in this period.If age-specific incidence rates for Japan and USA wereapplied to the estimated female Saudi population in 1994,the yearly number of new breast cancer cases would bearound either 500 or 3200. In 1994, 437 cases werereported in the country.