AMMAN - A total of 31,813 women underwent clinical breast cancer examinations during the Breast Cancer Awareness Campaign, the King Hussein Cancer Centre (KHCC) announced on Wednesday.

The number of women who underwent clinical examinations tripled by the end of the campaign compared to last year, when the figure stood at 12,133 women.

The KHCC launched the campaign in October in an effort to raise awareness on breast cancer and encourage early detection and extended it to mid-December in response to the overwhelming turnout of women seeking free examinations and mammograms.

During the campaign, entitled “Early detection of breast cancer saves lives”, several activities were organised and thousands of brochures distributed to encourage women to conduct breast self exams.

Commenting on the wide-ranging participation, KHCC Director General Mahmoud Sarhan said the 2007 campaign was different as it reached out to women in remote areas.

“Concluding the campaign does not in any way signify the end of awareness-focused activities,” Sarhan told reporters at a press conference yesterday, adding that several promising initiatives emerged.

As part of the awareness campaign, the centre’s breast cancer early detection clinic conducted free exams, five private hospitals provided mammograms at a 50 per cent discount and Health Ministry hospitals and healthcare centres across the country conducted mammograms and showed women how to conduct breast self-exams.

KHCC figures showed a huge turnout of women, with 1,788 women undergoing mammograms compared to 431 in 2006.

“The number increased due to the offers provided by private hospitals and the increase in the number of Health Ministry mammography units,” Sarhan said.

The number of mammography machines in ministry hospitals across the Kingdom increased from nine in 2006 to 30 in 2007, according to Mohammad Tarawneh, director of the ministry’s cancer department.

“As of this year, clinical breast cancer examinations are a must for women seeking medical treatment at ministry hospitals and health centres,” Tarawneh told the press.

Under the new decision, breast cancer exams are part of the routine medical checkup, Tarawneh noted, adding that the step will ensure every woman is safe from breast cancer and familiar with detection methods.

The ministry also increased the number of nurses tasked with training women on conducting breast self-examinations in its 1,442 healthcare centres, with 31,558 women benefiting from the service in 2007 compared to 11,846 the previous year.

As part of the campaign, the KHCC set up a free line for the public to inquire about breast cancer, receiving 1,693 phone calls in 2007 compared to 197 in 2006. Some 780 calls were made by women aged between 30 and 40.

According to official figures, 70 per cent of breast cancer cases in Jordan are discovered in advanced stages, minimising the chances of recovery. In contrast, if breast cancer is diagnosed early, recovery chances exceed 80 per cent.

Breast cancer is the most common type of cancer among women, accounting for 35 per cent of female cancer cases.