Cancer cases have dramatically increased during the past two decades in Arab countries.  The increase in cancer cases is especially found in breast and lung cancer. The following is a sample list of Arab medical and newspaper articles:

Medical Journals:

• Ezzat AA, et al.

Locally advanced breast cancer in Saudi Arabia: high frequency of stage III in a young population.
Med Oncol Tumor Pharmacother. 1999 Jul;16(2):95-103.
A ten year study (breast cancer) on Saudi women was conducted by cancer specialists at King Faisal Specialist Hospital and Research Center. The results showed that most women patients were younger than 50 years. All of them were in the advanced stages (III) of cancer disease. The prognosis of patients with Stage III disease remains poor despite the use of a multimodality approach. Also, 64% of those patients had died from breast cancer or its related complications.
 
• Ibrahim EM, al-Mulhim FA, al-Amri A, al-Muhanna FA, Ezzat AA, Stuart RK, Ajarim D:

Breast cancer in the eastern province of Saudi Arabia.
Med Oncol 1998 Dec;15(4):241-7
A ten year study (breast cancer) on Saudi women was conducted by cancer specialists at King Fahd Hospital. The results showed that most women patients were younger than 50 years. Also, majority of them were in the advanced stages (III) of cancer disease. In fact, only 9% of patients were in Stage I of cancer.
 
• Al-Ahwal, M:

Cancer patients’ awareness of their disease and prognosis.
Annals of Saudi Medicine 18(2):187 - 189, 1998
“... this study revealed several areas where cancer patients are uninformed or misinformed about their diagnosis, prognosis and treatment options. This may have an impact on patient compliance with the treatment."
 
• Talic RF:

Survival and prognostic factors in renal cell carcinoma (RCC) in Saudi population: A ten year review.
Saudi Med J. 19 (2):170 - 173, 1998
“... our study affirms that the stage of renal cell carcinoma at presentation is the most important prognostic factor affecting the survival of patients.”
• Knoll, S. M

Breast cancer screening and a comprehensive breast cancer program in Saudi Arabia
Annals of Saudi Medicine 17(1):1-3, 1997.
“... While it had once been presumed that the incidence of breast cancer in Saudi Arabia was low, more recent data has indicated the contrary. Not only is breast cancer a significant disease in the Kingdom (Saudi Arabia), as elsewhere in the world, but its patterns very disturbing..."
 
• Makhdoom, YM, et al:

Satisfaction with health care among primary health care centers attendees’ in Al-Khobar, Saudi Arabia.
Saudi Med J. 18 (3):227-230, 1997.
“... the mean satisfaction regarding health education services was low. This finding is similar to that shown by other workers and can be accounted for by the lack of health education resources as well as poor doctor/patient communication"
 
• Bilal Al Jeffry, et. al:

Surgical management of breast cancer in Saudi Arabia. A call for improvement
Annals of Saudi Medicine 18(6):531 - 533, 1998
“... International standards require that TA (Triple Assessment) be used in nearly all patients with a suspicion of breast cancer. In only 12% of our 92 patients had TA been properly done."
 
• Al Omari A, Mustafa MM, Hessler R, Rejjal A, Kattan A

Retinoblastoma as a congenital primary intracranial tumor.
Department of Oncology, King Faisal Specialist Hospital and Research Center, Riyadh, Saudi Arabia.
J Pediatr Hematol Oncol 1999 Jul-Aug;21(4):296-8
A 7-day-old infant presented with generalized seizures. He had a family history of
retinoblastoma. He died days after the diagnosis was made.
 
• Jan MM:

Facial paralysis: a presenting feature of rhabdomyosarcoma.
College of Medicine and Allied Health Sciences, Jeddah, Saudi Arabia.
Int J Pediatr Otorhinolaryngol 1998 Dec 15;46(3):221-4
A 5-year-old boy was diagnosed with embryonal rhabdomyosarcoma. Inspite of
surgery, radiation and chemotherapy,  the child deteriorated quickly. He developed carcinomatous meningitis and died 9 months after his initial presentation.
 
• Mpofu C, Revesz T

History and current state of pediatric oncology and hematology in the United Arab Emirates.
Pediatr Hematol Oncol 13 (1): 1-7 (Jan 1996)
“...There are three oncology centers in the United Arab Emirates, but only one with a dedicated pediatric unit (Tawam Hospital). The unit is 12 years old and is staffed by two pediatric oncologists working with pediatric but not oncology nurses. It handles approximately two thirds of the pediatric cancer cases in the country...”
 
• Makhdoom, YM, et al:

Satisfaction with health care among primary health care centers attendees’ in Al-Khobar, Saudi Arabia.
Saudi Med J. 18 (3):227-230, 1997.
“... the mean satisfaction regarding health education services was low. This finding is similar to that shown by other workers and can be accounted for by the lack of health education resources as well as poor doctor/patient communication"
 
• Al-Faris EA, et al:

Patients’ satisfaction with accessibility and services offered in Riyadh health centers.
Saudi Med J. 17 (1): 11-17, 1996.
“...Patients’ perception of the ideal health center, reasons for seeking care from other sources and their suggestions to improve the services offered at these centers showed a great deal of consistency. They cited three main requirements: (1) Looking for more experienced physicians or specialists. (2) Accessibility to doctors. (3) Availability of investigations (tests) and drugs.”

• Children and Cancer,  by Aneesah Fakhro

Al Ayam Bahraini Newspaper, N.3664, P.11, 1999.
 
• Hope,  by Aneesah Fakhro

Al Ayam Bahraini Newspaper, N.2942, P.17, 1997.
 
• Seminar about breast cancer, "Guest speaker, Dr. Abdul Rahman Fakhro":

We should expect a future increase in cancer cases, by Faisal Hayat.
Dr. Fakhro emphasizes the value of women education about breast self-examination
and women cancer education programs.
Al Ayam Bahraini Newspaper, N.2865, P.13, 1997.
 
• Change in life style is threatening Arab GCC countries with spread of cancer.

Al Watan Kuwaiti Newspaper, N.694, p.3, 1997.
 
• Jameelah Al-Samak: It is about time to inform the cancer patient about his/her illness.

by Osmat Al Mousaoui
Al Ayam Bahraini Newspaper, N.2774, P.11, 1996.
 
• Will the increased effort stop the spread of breast cancer in Bahrain? by Saeed Mohamed

Al Ayam Bahraini Newspaper, N.2550, P.11, 1996.
 
• Where is the Doctor? By Mohammed Fadel

“…it is becoming obvious today that death by natural causes is becoming rare in Bahrain which is the result of increased deaths caused by cancer, heart disease and others...”
Al Ayam Bahraini Newspaper, N.2566, P.4, 1996.
 
• Undesirable Topic: "Cancer", by Aneesah Fakhro

Al Ayam Bahraini Newspaper, N.2310, P.11, 1995.
 
• To continue early cancer detection program will lead to a major increase in breast cancer among Bahraini women during the next 10 years, by Ala'ah Jabri

Al Ayam Bahraini Newspaper, N.2362, P.4, 1995.
 
• In Bahrain, lung Cancer is most spread among both sexes, followed by breast cancer.

Al Ayam Bahraini Newspaper, N.2345, P.7, 1995.
 
• More foreigners smoke than Bahrainis, however, Bahrainin women smokers is on the rise... by Aishah Ghareeb

Al Ayam Bahraini Newspaper, N.2285, P.7, 1995.
 
• One in seven Bahrainis, is a smoker. by Jumanah Awadah

Al Ayam Bahraini Newspaper, N.2283, P.4, 1995.
 
• Professor Salem: Health care education will eliminate breast and lung cancers.

Al Watan Kuwaiti Newspaper, N.225, p.3, 1995.
 
• Kuwait rated among the leading countries in cigarette smoking

Al Watan Kuwaiti Newspaper, N.207, p.3, 1995.
 
• Country-wide survey in Kuwait to identify reasons for significant increase in breast cancer (cases were doubled in past 15 years).

Al Watan Kuwaiti Newspaper, N.294, p.3, 1995.