Saudi Doctor Brings Breast Cancer to Forefront

Oct. 25, 2007 — -- Saudi Arabian gynecologist Samia Al-Amoudi has dedicated her life to bringing breast cancer to the forefront of her country's national agenda.

But the doctor, whose face has become synonymous with the disease, was shocked when she was self-diagnosed with breast cancer last year. "I was diagnosed in advanced stage — stage three," Al-Amoudi said. "My tumor is the worst kind of tumor."

Even though she was seeing female patients every day and encouraging them to do their own breast exams, Al-Amoudi never bothered to do one on herself.

Now the country's most famous doctor has become its most famous patient.

"I don't want people to suffer the way I did," Al-Amoudi said. "I want everybody to learn from the lesson."

Al-Amoudi was determined to turn her tragedy into a public lesson that might help others. She began writing articles and a book about breast cancer; she appeared on television to spread awareness.

Only 10 days after she discovered she had breast cancer, Al-Amoudi spoke to a support group and admitted her mistake of not getting a mammogram, a typical occurrence in Saudi Arabia.

Al-Amoudi's passionate speaking engagements opened a long locked door of silence about the subject of breast cancer — Saudi Arabian women historically are tight-lipped about the topic and do not discuss it for a variety of reasons.

"Some of them [won't talk about it] because they think it's something very private," Al-Amoudi said. "They feel or they think of it as a taboo." Al-Amoudi hopes to change that attitude.

"She is a pioneer in terms of touching on a subject very personal," said Saudi writer and poet Thuraya Arrayed. "For her to come out and say here I am," Arrayed said, "it is wonderful."

"Dr. Samia is an invaluable resource," said Hala Moddelmog, CEO of the Susan G. Komen for the Cure. "She has been willing and able and capable of talking about breast cancer."

In fact, Al-Amoudi has launched the popular American breast cancer symbol of pink ribbons in Saudi Arabia.

Women who had never dared to speak about the subject now come to see her. One veiled woman said Al-Amoudi had given her the strength and the courage to battle her own breast cancer.

"She's a star for the whole country as a lady who has broken the silence," said Dr. Hassan Nasrat, of the King Abdulaziz Hospital in Saudi Arabia.

Al-Amoudi just hopes her activism will help the world find a cure. "I hope we reach a stage where we can live in a world free of cancer," Al-Amoudi said.

Meanwhile she maintains hope that she will be around for her two children.

"I pray to God to live long enough to bring up my children," she said.