DOHA: Risk for women developing breast cancer in the country is 56 per 100,000, according to Qatar Cancer Registry.
Breast cancer is by far the most common in the country, accounting for 31 percent of cases among women.
Women and men can be affected by breast cancer and it is important to note that many types of breast cancers are treatable and patients can survive if diagnosed and treated early.
In recognition of World Breast Cancer Awareness Month, Hamad Medical Corporation (HMC) is organising a campaign to raise awareness of the importance of early detection and prevention, and increase women’s understanding of the importance of regular screening.
Throughout this month, there will activities, including lectures, workshops and conferences. There will be educational materials, such as leaflets, roll-ups and posters, to help increase public knowledge on how to be aware about symptoms of breast cancer.
Dr Salha Bujassoum Al Bader, Senior Consultant, National Center for Cancer Care and Research (NCCCR), and Director, Breast Cancer Screening Programme, HMC, said, “The focus of the campaign is to reinforce the message ‘Breast cancer is curable if it is diagnosed early’, encouraging women to seek medical advice if they notice changes in their breasts (for example, lump, a change to a nipple or the skin or the shape of a breast) and go for regular screening if they are above 45 and/or have a family history of breast cancer.”
Catherine Gillespie, Assistant Executive Director of Nursing, NCCCR, said: “Recognised as one of the leading healthcare organisations in Qatar and the region, HMC’s mission is to provide the safest, most effective and most compassionate care to our population and help and support through early detection and education.
“We aim to provide our audiences with the knowledge they need by sharing information about breast awareness, talking about mammograms, prevention, and how early detection can save lives,” she said.
Professor Karl Alexander Knuth, Medical Director, NCCCR, and Chairman, Cancer Services, HMC, said, “All women are at risk for breast cancer. But, when it is caught early and treated, survival rates can increase.”
He stressed the fact that early diagnosis is crucial and treatment is more likely to be successful.
The campaign is part of HMC’s commitment to provide the safest, most effective and compassionate care to every patient.
It acknowledges the impact cancer has on the community and how HMC’s healthcare professionals and leaders are committed to constantly improving services so that they can best meet patients and their families’ needs now and in the future. The Peninsula
