U.S.-Middle East Partnership for Breast Cancer Awareness and Research

“By confronting the challenge of breast cancer together, this partnership … will help build lasting friendships between our countries. Most important, this partnership will help women throughout the Middle East find hope in a life free from breast cancer.” — First Lady Laura Bush

About the Partnership

Women in the United Arab Emirates and around the Middle East are coming together to fight a devastating and deadly disease that has impacted millions of women and their families around the world: breast cancer.

The need is urgent. Breast cancer continues to be the most common cause of cancer-related death among women worldwide. In 2002, according to the International Agency for Research on Cancer, there were 1,152,000 cases of breast cancer and 411,000 deaths from the disease.

Just 25 years ago, low awareness and late detection of the disease among American women made breast cancer difficult to discuss and treat. Through a concerted effort on the part of government, medical professionals and private citizens, and thanks to the bravery of many women, awareness and treatment has improved dramatically in the U.S. We want to share our experience with the women of the Middle East as they work to improve awareness and research in their region as well.

Partnering to Save Women's Lives

Through the U.S.-Middle East Partnership for Breast Cancer Awareness and Research, American women are sharing what they have learned to help women and families of the Middle East:

• The unique grassroots awareness campaign and educational resources of the Susan G. Komen Breast Cancer Foundation
• The medical expertise of Johns Hopkins Medicine International and M.D. Anderson Cancer Center
• Support from First Lady Laura Bush and the U.S. Department of State

We are partnering with women, government officials, physicians, and medical organizations in the region, beginning in the United Arab Emirates and Saudi Arabia, to enhance breast cancer awareness, increase medical research, and train women for community outreach. We are also discussing expanding this partnership with other countries, such as Jordan, that have expressed interest in participating in the partnership next year.

The goal: Help save the lives of Arab women by sharing expertise and lessons learned — working with the women of the region and drawing on their own unique experiences and cultural perspectives to help defeat breast cancer.

This project is supported by the State Department's Office of the Under Secretary for Public Diplomacy and Public Affairs (www.state.gov/r) and Middle East Partnership Initiative (www.mepi.state.gov).