An international conference on breast and pelvic cancer kick-started here on Wednesday, focusing on the necessity of drawing upon relevant world experience and research. In a keynote speech at the conference, Minister of Health Ali Al-Obaidi said the medical event reflects the Health Ministry''''s interest in continuing medical teaching programs. Such programs, which include the convening of conferences, symposiums, workshops, medical and technical lectures, mainly aim to capitalize on diagnosis and therapy technologies, the minister said in the speech, delivered on his behalf by Assistant Undersecretary of the Health Ministry for Private Services Mohammad Al-Khishti. "Such gatherings are intended to consolidate and strengthen scientific and medical links and to flesh out a clear-cut vision purposed to fulfill present medical requirements," he said. Medical services in the field of cancer diseases have witnessed a major quantum leap in the methods of early diagnosis and radioactive and chemical therapy, the minister pointed out. Marked advancement in cancer treatment methods has helped in the recovery of many cancer patients, Al-Obaidi added. The two-day conference features 12 seminars on the latest methods of breast cancer treatment and six others on pelvic and prostatic cancer therapy, he noted.