Early breast cancer detection up 70% since start of presidential health initiative: Ministry

Habiba Hamdy , Sunday 9 Oct 2022

Early detection of breast tumours among Egyptian women has risen by 70.5 percent since the introduction of the presidential initiative to support women’s health in 2019, Egypt's Ministry of Health and Population said on Sunday.

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The detection of late-stage breast cancer (stage thee and four) has therefore dropped from 58.5 percent to 29.5 percent since the beginning of the initiative, said health ministry spokesmen Hossam Abdel-Ghaffar.

The frequency of women's visits to examination clinics has also increased by 44.8 percent since 2019 thanks to increased awareness among Egyptian women regarding the importance of early detection and annual follow-ups, according to Abdel-Ghaffar.

So far, more than 28 million adult women have been examined as part of the initiative, which provides its services through 3,538 medical units nationwide, with an additional 102 hospitals offering advanced medical examination necessary for certain cases.

The initiative, which is part of the 100 Million Health initiative, is designed to screen for carcinoma of the breast at an early stage, pursue clinical examination, and provide free-of-charge treatment, with a key focus on reproductive health, family planning, and healthy lifestyles.

The detection of noncommunicable diseases such as diabetes, blood pressure, and obesity, is an integral part of the initiative, which considers their risk factors and promotes breast self-exams, according to the presidency's website.

Through the initiative’s website, women can locate their nearest clinics or inquire about them via the hotline 15335.

Early diagnosis is mutually beneficial to both the patient and the state in terms of the provision of timely responses in services offered free of charge, the spokesman further said.

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