Gynecological Cancer Services in Arab Countries: Present Scenario, Problems and Suggested Solutions

Abstract

Gynecological malignancies account for 9% of all female cancers worldwide. In the Arab countries Breast cancer is the leading cancer in women followed by cervical cancer. Ovarian cancer ranks as fourth leading cancer in women. There are huge differences in the available resources among Arab countries. However the challenges facing the provision of gynecological cancers services shared similarities like the cultural and religious background. Most of the gynecological cancers are diagnosed at a later stage in Arab countries due to the lack of reproductive health awareness especially among older women combined with the cultural stigma of seeking medical advice for gynecological symptoms. This article discusses the current situation of gynecological cancer services in Arab countries and suggests some practical solutions.

Breast Cancer in Bedouin-Arab Patients in Southern Israel: Epidemiologic and Biologic Features in Comparison with Jewish Patients

“…This finding of more advanced tumor presentation of BC in BA patients concurs with two previous reports on Palestinian patients residing in the Jerusalem area, and in Arab patients residing in northern Israel (Zidan et al, 2012). A late stage at presentation and locally-advanced BC has typically been reported in studies from Arab countries (Ortashi, 2013), and has been ascribed in these studies to failure to seek medical attention for early but palpable BC (Donnelly et al, 2013). Cultural reluctance to participate in screening mammography programs in the Arab population has been mentioned as a major impediment for early diagnosis of BC in these countries (Bener et al, 2010).…”

Descriptive Epidemiology of Common Female Cancers in the North East India - a Hospital Based Study

“…However, in the present analysis the difference of occurrence of breast, uterine cervix and ovarian cancers in urban-rural settings was not significant (p>0.05). Women with gynecological cancers especially uterine cervix cancer may report late due to stigma (Ortashi and Kalbani, 2013) and also, because of illiteracy. In our present analysis, the highest proportions (43.5%) of cases with uterine cervix patients were illiterates.…”

Integrative review of cervical cancer screening in Western Asian and Middle Eastern Arab countries

“…Seventeen papers were assessed as potentially relevant. Two were related to general gynecological cancer services in Arab countries (Ortashi & Al Kalbani, ) and general cancer control in the Gulf (Al‐Othman et al, ). Empirical research was not reported in two papers (Al‐Mandeel et al, , K. Sait, Bentley, Anfinan, & Power, ), leaving 13 for inclusion in the integrative review.…”