(MENAFN- Khaleej Times) Had she waited a few more months, she would have been caught up in a quagmire of cancer treatments and chemotherapies.
But thanks to early screenings, Dubai-based South African resident ShannonNaude was able to detect her cervical tumour before it transformed into a malignant cancer, eight years ago.
With a history of breast cancer on both sides of her family, and two members who'd had a double mastectomy, 41-year-oldNaude feels it's a responsibility to get across the message of early screening.
Dubai-basedNaude was one of the eight Pink Caravan horse riders who toured Umm Al Quwain on Sunday, raising breast cancer awareness by emphasising early detection. The campaign's fifth day saw riders embark on their 17 kilometre journey from Sheikh Khalifa General Hospital from 9.30am, to Umm Al Quwain Hospital before making the final stop at the Executive Council at 2.30pm.
The week-long ride, organised by Friends of Cancer Patients (FoCP) for the 8th year, is travell-ing across the seven emirates until March 6, offering free breast cancer screenings. Its next stop is Ajman, before concluding in Abu Dhabi on Tuesday.
Dr Sawsan Al Madhi, FoCP director general and head of the Pink Caravan Ride Medical and Awareness Committee, said the team carries out an average of 650-700 screenings a day, with higher numbers in the Northern Emirates. "It's an initiative from the community to the community. We have seen a lot more awareness surrounding breast cancer over the years," said Al Madhi, stating that it goes back to how the extensive awareness ride and campaign evolves every year. "The campaign is designed in a way that responds to our sensitive culture and residents' needs."
Meanwhile,Naude is one of the riders who combined her love for horse riding - a hobby since childhood - with her sense of social responsibility. She urged women to go for annual screenings and mammograms. "My aunt was 27 years old when she was diagnosed with breast cancer. Both my aunts survived thanks to regular screenings,' said Naude. "Get checked for your own safety."
'Cancer has given me a new perspective' When she went for a screening during an awareness campaign in 2011, the possibility of cancer couldn't be farther in her mind. Two years later, during an annual checkup, Lebanese resident Lina Fadel, 49, was surprised when she ended up being diagnosed with stage 2 mucinous carcinoma. "I was so scared at the beginning, because I never expected something like cancer," said Fadel, the mother of three girls. she was directly shifted to Al Twam Hospital for treatment.
After two operations, one of which was covered by FoCP, Fadel was cancer-free, without even needing chemotherapy. She is currently on a 10-year hormonal treatment and medications. "It was a very difficult period in my life, but I am a happier person now," said Fadel, who's been based in Ajman for the last 24 years. "I enjoy life more now, and I appreciate eve-ry single day. Cancer has given me a new perspective of life," she added.
Fadel stressed that cancer is like any other disease, but only if it is diagnosed early on.
"Without the awareness campaign in 2011, I wouldn't have discovered the cancer in my body. We live in a closed society where there's a lot of stigma about cancer. People sometimes even refuse to say the word 'cancer', so awareness is the key here. I advise people who have cancer to talk about it."
This year's campaign saw 450 horse riders, 700 volunteers and 570 medical experts take part across the seven emirates.
Breast cancer death rates have declined from 8.7 per 100,000 women in 2009, to five per 100,000 women in 2014, with late detection of the disease going down from 64 per cent in 2009 to 16 per cent in 2013.
A total of 98 per cent of those with breast cancer can survive if itis detected early.
A mobile mammography clinic to detect breast and cervical cancers in the community goes along with the ride to each emirate, and will continue conducting free screenings throughout the year around the UAE.
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