Breast cancer awareness: Saudi Doctor steps in

The awareness campaign about the breast cancer is picking up all over the world and the latest initiative comes from a Saudi Arabian gynecologist.

Samia Al-Amoudi was detected of having breast cancer and since last year she has completely dedicated herself to the awareness campaign in her country.

Al-Amoudi, has decided to bring this issue in the forefront and bring awareness so that it can be detected at a stage where it is still curable. Dr. Al-Amoudi, inspite of being a doctor herself and knowing the potential dangers of this disease, never got herself checked. She used to motivate her patients for undertaking the tests for this cancer detection but never got herself checked.

"I was diagnosed in advanced stage — stage three," Al-Amoudi said. "My tumor is the worst kind of tumor."

After the worst happening to herself, she made this as a mission of her life to turn this tragic incident as a lesson for the public. She started off with writing articles and a book about the breast cancer. Only within 10 days of the detection she was up to the task. She met a support group and admitted that she had made the mistake of not getting a mammogram, which is very common in Saudi Arabia due to ignorance about the disease.

"She is a pioneer in terms of touching on a subject very personal," said Saudi writer and poet Thuraya Arrayed. "For her to come out and say here I am," Arrayed said, "it is wonderful."

She also started appearing on television to spread the awareness and now her face has become a synonym for the breast cancer awareness program not only in Saudi but also in some nearby countries.

"Dr. Samia is an invaluable resource," said Hala Moddelmog, CEO of the Susan G. Komen for the Cure. "She has been willing and able and capable of talking about breast cancer."

This effort must have taken a lot of courage and effort, as traditionally the society in Saudi Arabia is not very forthcoming on this issue and especially for a woman, it’s really difficult with all the restrictions involved. Al-Amoudi's decision to step forward is thus really commendable and has helped in breaking the long lasting silence over this issue, which was required for the good of women in Middle East countries.

"Some of them [won't talk about it] because they think it's something very private," Al-Amoudi said. "They feel or they think of it as a taboo." Al-Amoudi hopes their attitude will change sooner.

Al-Amoudi also launched the popular American breast cancer symbol of pink ribbons in Saudi Arabia. These ribbons were a part of the campaign in America spreading awareness about the breast cancer. There was a massive response with people coming up by buying pink laptops and i-pod’s. Almoudi hopes of achieving similar response in her country.

"I don't want people to suffer the way I did," Al-Amoudi said. "I want everybody to learn from the lesson."

Indeed this is really brave and courageous on her part to come out in the open with this awareness campaign.