An online workshop titled “Breast Cancer 2026 – From Evidence to Practice” was held on Monday, bringing together leading oncology experts from Kuwait, Saudi Arabia, and Bahrain to discuss recent advances in breast cancer treatment and how these developments can be applied in clinical settings across the Gulf Cooperation Council (GCC) region. The event was organized by the National Cancer Awareness Campaign (CAN) and included participation from specialists affiliated with the Gulf Cancer Federation.
CAN Chairman Dr. Khaled Al-Saleh emphasized the critical role of regional collaboration among GCC countries, medical institutions, and oncology specialists in combating breast cancer. He noted that enhanced cooperation enables wider access to cutting-edge treatment technologies and facilitates the exchange of knowledge, which ultimately improves patient care throughout the region.
Dr. Ahmed Al-Saleh, a CAN member, highlighted the rapid advancements in breast cancer therapies but stressed that translating scientific discoveries into better patient outcomes requires multidisciplinary teamwork, ongoing professional training, and treatment strategies tailored to individual patient needs. The workshop featured a comprehensive scientific program that brought together experts in medical, radiation, and surgical oncology to review contemporary treatment methods and explore ways to strengthen knowledge-sharing platforms among healthcare providers.
The workshop concluded with an interactive session titled “Ask the Experts: Breast Cancer Management in 2026,” allowing healthcare professionals to engage with the speakers on practical challenges and new approaches in breast cancer care.
Dr. Maha Al-Sindi, consultant medical oncologist and head of Training at Bahrain’s Oncology Center of the Royal Medical Services, underscored the shift toward personalized treatment based on the biological characteristics of individual tumors rather than a one-size-fits-all approach. She explained that tailoring therapies according to tumor biology enables physicians to select the most effective options while taking into account potential side effects and individual patient responses. Al-Sindi highlighted the importance of accurate diagnosis and diagnostic testing in guiding optimal treatment choices and improving clinical outcomes.
Professor Mashabeb Al-Asiri, director general of the National Cancer Center of the Saudi Health Council and CEO of the Saudi Center for Proton Therapy, discussed advances in radiotherapy that have shortened treatment durations and reduced the number of sessions for certain patients without compromising effectiveness or safety. He pointed out that modern radiotherapy techniques allow for precise targeting of radiation to affected areas, minimizing exposure to healthy tissues and lowering side effects. Professor Al-Asiri stressed the need for careful patient selection to balance disease control with the preservation of quality of life.
Dr. Aws Al-Aziri, consultant in breast cosmetic and oncological surgery and head of the Surgical Department at Al-Sabah Hospital, described a growing trend toward minimizing lymph node surgery when clinically appropriate. This approach represents a shift from more extensive surgeries to selecting the safest procedure tailored to each patient’s condition. Dr. Al-Aziri noted that reducing unnecessary surgical interventions can decrease the risk of complications such as lymphedema, pain, and limited arm mobility, thereby enhancing patients’ quality of life post-treatment.