Sad figures

According to a recent study conducted by the Jordan Breast Cancer Programme, fear of death is the primary reason for women in Jordan to forego screening for breast cancer.

Fear of the treatment for breast cancer also figures highly among the reasons given by women for their failure to check regularly their state of health, neglect that often has fatal consequences.

Despite repeated campaigns organised in the Kingdom to raise awareness about the dangers of foregoing breast screening, many women continue to ignore the danger posed by failure to undergo regular screening because they fear the worst in case they are diagnosed with cancer.

Breast cancer is a main killer of women in the country. About 900 cases are reported annually and about three women are diagnosed with breast cancer every day.

It is, therefore, ignorance and lack of common sense to avoid checking up regularly and opting for “denial” rather than dealing with any danger posed to one’s health.

Given the fact that detection in early stages makes breast cancer treatable, with high percentages of survival, a more concerted effort must be conducted to raise awareness among women that early diagnosis is infinitely more beneficial than adopting fatalism.

There is pressing need to change the nation’s culture on disease prevention.

Alongside a more forceful awareness-raising campaign, the Ministry of Health must initiate an investigation to determine why breast cancer — and many other types of cancer, including those affecting children — is so prevalent in the country, for once a sad figure that puts Jordan among the leading Arab countries reporting breast cancer cases.

Something must be terribly wrong, and that has to be found out.

Is it the diet, the lifestyle, the liberal use of pesticides and insecticides, genes or what is it that makes cancer so widespread in the Kingdom?

It is important to ascertain the causes for the prevalence of all forms of cancer in the country and act accordingly.

The loss of one’s life goes beyond the individual; it affects families and, by extension, the entire country.

The country has many figures it can take pride in. The ones on cancer cases do not. They put a blemish on this modern country with advanced medical services.