(MENAFN- Khaleej Times) October is marked as the breast cancer awareness month around the world, giving it the moniker 'Pinktober'. Over the past several years, hospitals, charities, and public and private organisations in the UAE have religiously dedicated the entire month to organising awareness events.
Though the Covid-19 outbreak put a screeching halt on large gatherings, a large number of international breast cancer awareness events have gone virtual this year. From free mammograms to free online seminars, and online support groups, breast cancer awareness causes have stepped up their game to support patients.
'The pink steps challenge'
One of UAE's biggest charities for cancer, the Friends of Cancer Patients (FoCP) has launched the 'Pink Steps Challenge' to encourage both individuals as well as corporate teams to improve their health and contribute to the treatment of cancer patients. The challenge involves the participants pledging to take 8,000 steps every day. The overall target of the challenge is 20 million steps.
Badr Al Jaaidi, programme manager - community affairs at FOCP, said: "Individuals and companies in the UAE are welcome to participate in the get-fit challenge, which runs from October 1 to 31.
"The challenge aims at promoting a healthy lifestyle among the community while simultaneously mobilising funds for a noble cause. It is well known that leading a healthy lifestyle can help prevent many types of cancer," she added.
Pinktober in hospitals
Dr Sukrith Shetty, specialist oncosurgeon and head of the department at NMC Specialty Hospital Dubai and visiting surgeon at Al Zahra Hospital, Sharjah and NMC Royal Hospital - DIP, told Khaleej Times, "Every year we support this campaign with a free mammogram. Owing to the pandemic, we planned to cater to individuals who need a mammogram clinically.
"We chose patients who have a clinical finding, post-consultation with our oncology team, and only those who really need a mammogram are given a free screening," said Dr Shetty.
Aster Clinics are offering free screening and gynaecology consultation along with 50 per cent off on mammogram and ultrasound, said Dr Anuradha Deshmukh, specialist obstetrics and gynaecology.
Dr Rita Daaboul, the consultant general surgeon at Medcare Women and Children Hospital, said: "We have special offers throughout October for consultations and screenings starting from Dh299. A consultation and physical examination is Dh299 and consultation with a mammogram or ultrasound is Dh399."
A spokesperson at VPS Healthcare said: "In the past year, ourmammogram truck conducted over 2,500 complimentary mammogram screenings. This time, due to the pandemic situation, we have decided to avail the mammogram screening facilities at our unit hospitals."
Focus on potential male candidates
Zulekha Hospital's 'Pink It Now' breast cancer awareness campaign has been encouraging early detection and prevention of the disease for over nine years in the UAE, attracting over 13,000 women to attend the free screenings and consultations in its hospitals. This year, the healthcare group has launched free screenings from October 1 to 31.
Co-chairperson Zanubia Shams said: "In these times when we are occupied and coping with the pandemic and its impact on our lives, we cannot forget our non-Covid-19 health conditions that may project a higher risk for our bodies at a later stage. It is essential and important for us to provide access to these health checks that have made a difference to lives."
This year, the hospital is also increasing its focus on increasing awareness of the prevalence of breast cancer in men. "To raise awareness about male breast cancer, we are organising a webinar where male breast cancer survivors 'Pink Knights' will speak to patients. As of 2018, breast cancer caused 260 deaths in the UAE. In that year, the number of deaths caused by cancer among women in the UAE was 977 compared to 1.1 thousand among men. Due to the insignificant numbers reported for male breast cancers and the absence of clinical trials in this subject, the disease is ignored by everyone," stated Zanubia.
MENAFN1010202000490000ID1100936786
Legal Disclaimer:
MENAFN provides the information “as is” without warranty of any kind. We do not accept any responsibility or liability for the accuracy, content, images, videos, licenses, completeness, legality, or reliability of the information contained in this article. If you have any complaints or copyright issues related to this article, kindly contact the provider above.