Breast cancer survivor Nora Alzahrani, extreme right, with breast cancer specialist Dr. Alaa Sultan, Abir Khalil, Dr. Ala’a Marzouki and other participants of the Breast Cancer Awareness Day program.

In celebration of Breast Cancer Awareness Day, Nora Alzahrani, a survivor of breast cancer, declared her victory over the disease in a program that was organized by Beauty Clinic with the support of the National Initiative Group in Jeddah on Friday.

Alzahrani said that she is feeling better as she is victorious over the disease: “With mercy, faith in Allah and determination, nothing is impossible. Today I am standing in front of you as a survivor of the disease which claims lives if not treated properly.”

She further said awareness of breast cancer treatment and early detection at any specialized medical centers is very important to fight against this disease.

Dr. Alaa Sultan, a specialist in breast cancer, said they are able to cure cancer by 75 percent with early detection and treatment. “We believe that early detection is better for survival from the disease.”

She said the healing of Alzahrani is due to early detection, taking treatment on time and because of complete information about the nature of the disease and how to eliminate it.

She said there are still a number of people who don’t have complete information about the disease and treatment, and only a small percentage of them actually go for early detection and treatment.

“There are new and more effective drugs developed, and treatments available to help to cure this disease,” explained Dr. Sultan.

Abir Khalil, the ambassador for nutrition and treatment, said it’s also very important to discuss the obstacles that prevent access to the goal of elimination of this disease, stressing that the prevention of the disease and healthy behavior, and awareness, can reduce the high rate of cancer, particularly in women.

Abdul Aziz Alandidjani, head of National Initiative Group and media adviser, said that statistics revealed that cancer affects 70 people out of every 100,000 in Saudi Arabia and about 7,000 new cancer cases are diagnosed each year.

Dr. Ala’a Marzouki, from Al-Zahra Breast Cancer Association, said the most important goals of the association are spreading awareness with the aim to prevent the disease and the problems cancer causes, prevention, early diagnosis, finding better ways for treatment, and creation of a database of chronic cases.

According to Marzouki, King Faisal Center for Tumors treats approximately 2,700 cases every year while the rest of Saudi Arabian centers treat approximately 1,500 cases every year from the 7,000 registered cases. Some 4,200 cases do not receive treatment.

Twenty percent of all cancers can be prevented with less exposure to sunlight, not using ultraviolet rays in beauty salons, not using chemicals in food, and daily exercise.