Al Amal Hospital (AAH), in association with the Qatar National Cancer Society, has marked the breast cancer awareness day with a number of activities.
The awareness drive was one of many activities of Al Amal’s month-long campaign for the breast cancer international awareness month programme.
Qatar National Cancer Society chairman Dr Khalid bin Jabor al-Thani said in opening remarks that co-operation between the society and AAH was important for achieving more control and increased understanding of breast cancer.
Hamad General Hospital’s executive director Nagi al-Mannai said: “Due to the increasing rate of breast cancer cases in the community, from 70 cases in 2005 to 112 cases in 2008, it is important to spread awareness. We must empower the general public about the importance of early detection and subsequent treatments.”
AAH breast cancer screening programme head and consultant oncologist and hematologist Dr Salha Bujassoum highlighted at a presentation titled ‘How To Control Breast Cancer’ four methods for detecting breast cancer early and the risk factors of the disease.
“Breast cancer constitutes 39% of the total tumors inflicting women in Qatar and among women within the age group 20-40 years. Approximately 13% of the total cancer cases in the country is breast cancer cases, out of which 23.8% are Qataris and 63.2% are expatriates women,” she explained.
She stressed that women should consult their physician if they notice any change in size, shape or colour of their breasts.
“The rate of survival is increased when the disease is detected early,” she said.
Another presenter from the American University of Beirut Medical Center Dr Naji al-Sagheer while speaking on ‘Together Towards a Full Cure’, explained that not all tumors detected in the breast were malignant tumors.
Dr al-Sagheer, who is also consultant hematologist and oncologist, emphasised that diet was considered a major risk factor of breast cancer.
Aspire Academy dietician Hala Dahira outlined the importance of healthy diet in cancer prevention while AAH pharmacist Radwa Maher delivered a reassuring presentation on side effects of chemotherapy explaining that all adverse effects of chemotherapy were temporary.
A workshop on breast self-examination was also conducted where educational leaflets and manuals were distributed.
The workshop also provided women with opportunity to book appointments with the Breast Cancer Screening Clinic in HMC. |
