Antoine Finianos MD, Assistant Professor of Clinical Medicine at the American University of Beirut Medical Center, Chief Division of Hematology-Oncology at Keserwan Medical Center.

October is Breast Cancer Awareness Month, a time when health institutions, advocacy groups, and individuals around the world come together to raise awareness, promote early detection, and support those affected by breast cancer. At Keserwan Medical Center (KMC), we stand in solidarity with this global movement—committed to educating, screening, and empowering our community, especially women, to take charge of their breast health. Despite the rise in awareness campaigns in recent years, many women still avoid or delay mammograms due to fear, stigma, or financial concerns. At KMC, we believe that knowledge, access, and compassion are key to changing this.

Breast cancer in Lebanon:  In Lebanon, breast cancer is the most common cancer among women representing nearly 1 in every 3 cancer diagnoses, and the average age at diagnosis is around 50 years, younger than in many Western countries(In Lebanon, 50% of breast cancer diagnoses are in women less than age of 50 compared to 25% in Western countries); highlighting the importance for early and regular screening starting at age 40 and even earlier for those with strong family history. 

The importance of screening: Breast cancer screening reduces breast cancer mortality by around 18-25%. Regular screening allows us to detect breast cancer before symptoms appear, when treatment is most effective and less invasive. The encouraging news is that when detected early, breast cancer is highly treatable, and survival rates exceed 90% in early-stage disease. 

You can make a difference: Breast cancer is not just a woman’s issue as it affects entire families and communities. Therefore, we urge you to get screened or encourage someone you know to get screened. Moreover, improve your knowledge of the signs and risks of breast cancer and try to support local organizations offering help to patients in need. Fighting breast cancer is a collaborative work between patients, healthcare systems, government actions/policies and communities. You are not alone in this fight. 

KMC’s Commitment: At Keserwan Medical Center, we are proud to provide comprehensive care to our breast cancer patients. We offer state-of-the-art 3D digital mammography, breast ultrasound and breast MRI. Our patient cases are usually discussed in our multidisciplinary breast cancer tumor board weekly meetings at the American University of Beirut Medical Center, bringing to our patients the best personalized treatment plans that can be applied at KMC via our experienced oncologists and specialized breast cancer surgeons. We are committed to keep improving our services and starting new ones like radiation treatment and PET/CT imaging, ensuring our women receive the best care close to where they live.  Beyond clinical services, KMC is committed to community education and outreach through educational talks, free events, and collaboration with local municipalities and NGOs to promote screening. 

With awareness, early screening, and modern treatments, hope and healing are stronger than ever. Our mission remains to offer the best care to our patients through continuous innovations focusing on patient-centered, compassionate and evidence-based care.