SPREADING THE MESSAGE: Benjamin Martis is the GM of Doha Drug Store and has been leading the invisibobble breast cancer campaign.
A month-long campaign is promoting the cause by selling a special edition of the
invisibobble. And part of the proceeds from the sale is going to Qatar Cancer Society
By Umer Nangiana
Most cases of breast cancer are found by women noticing unusual changes, taking the initiative and visiting their doctor. The earlier the breast cancer is found, the better the chances of beating it.
To raise awareness about the importance of regular checks to detect breast cancer, Doha Drug Store is running a month-long campaign, the invisibobble breast cancer awareness campaign called TLC (Touch, Look, Check).
invisibobble is a traceless hair ring that is designed to put an end to all hair tying problems. It is wearable with all hair types, gives no kinks after wearing a ponytail, is made of hygienic non-soaking material, distributes pressure to avoid headaches, while having a strong hold and safe from split ends.
Doha Drug Store is the distributor for invisibobble in Qatar. For the breast cancer awareness month, the store has been selling a special edition of the invisibobble which is perfectly pink in colour and comes with a Breast Cancer Awareness ribbon.
Doha Drug Store is donating a part of the money from the sale of invisibobble to Qatar Cancer Society (QCS). “Breast cancer is not life-threatening as long as it is detected early. If it is detected early, it can be cured and people can live normal lives afterwards and that is the reason we have gone through this campaign to tell people to be better aware,” Benjamin Martis, the General Manager of Doha Drug Store who is also spearheading the invisibobble breast cancer campaign tells Community in a recent interview.
“We have this campaign called TLC (Touch, Look and Check) which every person can do. If there is anything unusual whether it is in the nipple or in physical appearance or if they see a lump, they should go to a doctor and get it checked,” adds Martis.
He says if this cancer is detected in the early stages, it can be cured better. And there are many breast cancer survivors around the world.
Martis says breast cancer is in fact one of the most prevailing cancers in the society. It is the highest cancerous group. In Qatar, it is quite prevailing. From what he knows, he says, Qatar stands as the third country within GCC with highest number of breast cancer patients.
While the actual causes of this type of cancer remain unknown, it can hit anyone at any time.
“Breast cancer is the highest cancerous tragedy and nobody knows where it can hit, when it can hit and hits somebody without knowledge. In my own friends’ group, I have seen some people having this disease and it changed their life completely,” says the GM Doha Drug Store.
Martis says it is very important to report to the doctor if you notice any symptoms of breast cancer. And to detect those symptoms, one has to regularly check through TLC.
“Normally it is a lump or the discharge from the nipples. These are the two main signs,” says Martis. However, a lump may not be cancerous in the end. But it is has to be examined by the doctor.
Breast cancer can hit at any age but most of the time it hits in the 50s. After 50, people need to be more careful, says Martis.
About the campaign, the GM says it is the first year they have brought the invisibobble with pink BCA ribbon to Doha. “We have been selling this product since June and we had this opportunity to participate through this product and educate people. We are interested more in educating people than having any business interest,” says the Doha Drug Store GM.
“We want to tell people about it since it is a sensitive situation and we want to educate. We want to tell people that you look after yourselves with this campaign. And that is why they have created this product for us and they sell it through the month of October,” he adds.
People can get instantly attached to invisibobble because many can use it. It is an impulse purchase as well when somebody sees it in that particular shape and colour. “And now since it is associated with breast cancer campaign and we give part of the money to Qatar Cancer Society, more and more people are willing to purchase it. It also shows the generosity of the people around us,” says Martis.
There are countries in the world where most people go and do their checkups regularly. In some Western countries, governments tell their people to go and get checked.
“Here in Qatar, everything is available to people as well. But people generally do not make that effort to go and get examined. Generally, it is that attitude of the people that it will not happen to me, it will happen to someone else,” observes the GM.
“It is like an accident as accident can happen to anybody. Similarly breast cancer can come into any family but we do not want to talk about it and we do not want get it checked. That is why we tell people, it is okay to go and get it checked especially when you are older,” insists Martis.
The product was launched at the start of October and Doha Drug Store GM says they would be able to finish all the stock by the end of the month. He especially thanked their nine partners Virgin Megastore, Curves for Women, Marks & Spencer, QPWN, Royal Plaza, VLCC, The GateMall, Gulf Mall and Monoprix for making the campaign a success.
“We are very grateful to Qatar Cancer Society (QCS) for allowing us to work with them towards the community. It is always nice to give something back to the community. We are 15 people involved in this activity for one full month,” says Martis.
“It is a lot of effort from our team, which I am very grateful about. We are also very grateful to Rayyan and Doha municipalities for giving us the permissions very quickly,” says the GM before going on to add that without the help of these people and these organisations, the campaign could not be a success.