CAN launches thyroid cancer awareness campaign
KUWAIT: Cancer Awareness Nation (CAN) launched a thyroid awareness campaign under the slogan “Knowledge is Life” at the Palliative Care Center of Al-Sabah Medical Zone on Sunday. The campaign’s initiatives will continue until Jan 28, including awareness lectures and training sessions for medical staff, as well as the distribution of awareness messages to the public.
CAN Chairman Dr Khaled Al-Saleh warned thyroid cancer is a very cruel disease that is rising globally on an annual basis, highlighting its most common risk factors and symptoms to encourage early diagnosis and guarantee effective treatment. Thyroid cancer is the second most common disease affecting women after breast cancer, with about 199 annual female cases in Kuwait, yet with recovery rates almost reaching 99 percent, said Dr Saleh.
• Risk Factors
Dr Saleh noted that women, particularly between the ages of 50 and 55, are twice more likely to have thyroid cancer than men, as 13 out of every 100,000 women in Kuwait are diagnosed with thyroid cancer, while only six out of 100,000 men are diagnosed with the disease. Yet, the most common age group prone to this disease among men is those aged 60+. Being exposed to radiation to the head and neck, mostly during childhood, is another major risk factor of getting the disease, he added.
• Symptoms and diagnosis
Dr Saleh emphasized the importance of having annual examinations and blood tests to determine the level of gland hormones to diagnose any deficiency early. In addition to this, he advised constant observation of the neck, and if one spots any lumps in the interior lower part of their neck, they should seek medical advice.
Following consultation, patients often go through a number of tests such as ultrasound and fine-needle aspiration biopsy to examine the signs of any cancer, he said. He also highlighted that in case of discovering any lumps, the most popular way of treatment is through surgical removal operation.
• Recovery and treatment
Eman Al-Shammari, in charge of the campaign, spoke of the treatment of this disease, highlighting an optimistic message for people. She pointed out that recovery rates from thyroid cancer have been very high during last few years in Kuwait, as no incidents of death have taken place. She pointed out that the treatment methods provided in Kuwait are developed to the extent that they can effectively and completely cure the disease and not only limit its spread. In addition, she noted the high number of medical centers that are spread all over Kuwait, which easily accept the transfer of any patient.
• Initiatives of the campaign
According to Shammari, CAN’s initiatives to educate and promote awareness about thyroid cancer for the sixth consecutive year will continue for around a week this year. The campaign holds awareness lectures and training sessions targeting medical staff in primary care centers and at the CAN training center. Regarding the public, CAN’s efforts extend to distributing brochures among people, including simplified information about risk factors, incidence rates and treatment methods for thyroid cancer, as well as gifts and messages of hope and optimism about effective recovery.