DOHA: The Primary Health Care Corporation (PHCC) will launch a month-long nationwide awareness campaign tomorrow focusing on early screening for breast cancer, one of the most common illnesses in Qatar.
The campaign coincides with the World Breast Cancer Awareness Month (BCAM) which begins tomorrow. It will run in four malls across Qatar encouraging women to book for breast cancer screening.
“Just a couple of years ago, public awareness on cancer in Qatar was limited. Over the past 12 months the Primary Health Care Corporation has been working tirelessly to tackle this fact through its Breast and Bowel Screening programme — Screen for Life,” Dr Shaikha Abu Shaikha, Manager Cancer Programme Division, PHCC told The Peninsula.
“The campaign is being launched with the sole goal of promoting education, awareness and early detection of cancer among the community in Qatar, and I am proud to say that through its various initiatives and activities, we continue to gain success. We have great ambitions through our efforts and driving the Screen for Life programme in the years to come,” she added.
Breast cancer is at the forefront of diseases affecting women across the world, and in Qatar this is no different. Results from a 2014 study show that breast cancer amounted to 17.42% of all cancer incidence in Qatar, followed by bowel cancer at 10.55%. The highest incidence of breast cancer — 16.2% — was among women aged between 45 and 49.
To promote education, awareness and early detection of breast cancer in Qatar, PHCC has been leading a life-saving, population-based breast cancer screening programme ‘Screen For Life.’ The campaign is an integral component of the Breast and Bowel Cancer Screening Programme.
Women at the risk age group between 45 and 69 could book for breast cancer screening by calling the PHCC screening call centre on 8001112. Awareness activities will also be held at different events during the month, as part of the campaign.
Early detection of breast cancer vastly increases survival rates. If diagnosed and treated at an early stage, the survival rate from breast cancer is nearly 100 per cent, according to the National Breast Cancer Foundation.
Breast Cancer Awareness Month is an annual international health campaign organised by major breast cancer charities every October to increase awareness of the disease and to raise funds for research into its cause, prevention, diagnosis, treatment and cure. The campaign also offers information and support to those affected by breast cancer. The pink ribbon is an international symbol of breast cancer awareness.
