Comments on: Use Your Imagination: Breast Cancer in Saudi Arabia

By: The “Woman’s Disease” «

The “Woman’s Disease” « — Mon, 27 Sep 2010 10:05:43 +0000

[...] forward to how you contribute to this month’s “Use Your Imagination” with the story of Khalid here.” – American [...]

By: American Bedu

American Bedu — Thu, 26 Nov 2009 01:32:21 +0000

Allen – thank you for sharing your experience.

By: Allen Wilson - Houston, Texas

Allen Wilson - Houston, Texas — Wed, 25 Nov 2009 14:51:07 +0000

That sketch is me–only in reverse. In 2003 my youngest son “found” the lump in my chest while we were playing basketball. An inadvertent elbow caused pain that would not go away. I ultimately had surgery and chemotherapy and then three years later got to do it again, this time additionally with radiation. I have been fine since. I am 58 and am an avid mountain climber and pursue many other physical activities. What Kahlid may not know is that 1 out of 100 breast cancer cases belongs to men—he is not a freak and should not be ashamed. I had no idea the number was that large. This means that most men passively hide or die—they are out there—it is just that no one sees them. Life has choices but no guarantees–Kahlid can confront his fears or compel others to raise his four children without his influence. Best wishes to all. Allen Wilson Houston, Texas, USA

By: Adrian

Adrian — Wed, 25 Nov 2009 12:46:52 +0000

Men have chance at getting breast cancer too. Maybe a campaign should be made to let men know they are prone to the disease too.

By: American Bedu

American Bedu — Wed, 25 Nov 2009 01:56:40 +0000

Thanks for adding Oss!

And I hope others will add more or write their own view. Spread the awareness…breast cancer can affect anyone.

By: Oss

Oss — Wed, 25 Nov 2009 01:14:49 +0000

In your part of the story,you have already mentioned that he is too reluctant on not seeing the doctor

But after the disclosure of the disease to his wife, he may opt for on going to his personal doctor and relying on him to keep it private. As you mentioned that the his wife was able to notice the abnormality,so the growing tension and constant followup by his wife will eventually lead Khalid to visit the doctor.

By: American Bedu

American Bedu — Tue, 24 Nov 2009 18:13:47 +0000

That, RCG, is part of the challenge Saudi faces in erasing the stigma that breast cancer is just a women’s problem.

By: RoseColoredGlasses

RoseColoredGlasses — Tue, 24 Nov 2009 11:14:37 +0000

I think that the men here have a hard enough time letting their women go to the doctor for breast cancer… Therefore, I think that they would be far less likely to do so themselves if they found a lump.

I spoke to a woman who has watched 5 of her relatives pass away from breast cancer in the past few years. She said that oneof her Saudi female relatives was not allowed to seek treatment because her husband didn’t want her to be deformed. Now how dumb is that?

By: American Bedu

American Bedu — Tue, 24 Nov 2009 10:22:41 +0000

@Sally,

I think without promoting further awareness to include that men can be equally susceptible to the disease would have a man like Khalid simply stay quiet.

By: Sally

Sally — Tue, 24 Nov 2009 04:50:17 +0000

This subject is one I recently explored with my friend Allen, who lives in Houston, TX. He is a two-time survivor of breast cancer. In our discussions, we wondered how men in Saudi Arabia would react to this diagnosis and whether or not they would be open about what is really wrong.

I felt that a man in Saudi would most likely be very secretive about the real diagnosis because breast cancer is thought to be only a “womens’ disease”.

What frightens me is that a man would be like Khalid in this story and not seek care until it’s too late.