Doha: Qatar’s National Breast and Bowel Cancer Screening Programme, ‘Screen For Life’, led by the Primary Health Care Corporation (PHCC), has significant achievements in the early detection of breast and bowel cancer in 2022.
Some 13,753 people in Qatar underwent breast or bowel cancer screening in 2022 with ‘Screen for Life.’ Among them, 5,838 people underwent free screening for bowel cancer with 7,918 taking up the opportunity of mammograms for breast cancer, according to data published by the PHCC. The two conditions are the most often detected cancers in the country.
Published data shows that Qatar now has a breast cancer screening uptake rate of 52 percent and a bowel cancer screening uptake of 49 percent.
This indicates that the National Breast and Bowel Cancer Programme in Qatar is in line with the key areas when compared to similar national programmes worldwide.
The screenings were carried out either at the three PHCC screening suites at Al Wakra, Leabaib, and Rawdat Al Khail Health Centers or via the Screen for Life mobile unit. PHCC screening suites offer both breast and bowel cancer screenings while the mobile unit offers only breast cancer screening.
To mention, since its launch during the COVID-19 pandemic, there has been a significant engagement toward bowel cancer screening home delivery service for screening participants and it has had an incredible effect on the number of follow-ups and screening assessments.
To help the screening programme to reach more people in the community, the home delivery service of bowel cancer screening has been reactivated via QPost.
Screening can detect cancer before it has a chance to progress into later stages that are harder to treat.
According to experts nearly 100% survival rate for breast cancer, when caught at an early stage; while 90% survival rate for bowel cancer, when caught at an early stage.
‘Screen For Life’ support begins with staff at the dedicated call center (8001112) contacting eligible people and inviting them to attend a screening.
At present, women aged between 45 and 69 are encouraged to undergo a free mammogram every three years for breast cancer detection whether or not they have concerns or symptoms, while anyone in the 50-74 age bracket is encouraged to undergo screening for bowel cancer every two years.
