Dubai, United Arab Emirates, October 30, 2021: Dubai Health Authority (DHA) experts advocated the importance of early detection in the battle against breast cancer during the authority’s concluding event for the Hope Campaign.

The authority carried out the campaign in collaboration with Zabeel Labies Club and BinSina Pharmacy.  More than nine online lectures to educate women about Breast cancer and seven field visits took place in the month of October as part of the campaign. 

According to WHO, in 2020, there were 2.3 million women diagnosed with breast cancer, making it the world’s most prevalent cancer. However, with advances in science there are high chances of curing the disease with minimum invasion through early detection.  In fact, if breast cancer is detected early on, the survival rate is 99 per cent.

Dr Hind Al Awadhi, head of health promotion and education at Dubai Health Authority highlighted that early detection is the best way to preserve breasts, battle the cancer and is also helpful for those women who need partial or total breast reconstruction.

She said that the first mammogram should take place at 40 years of age and every year thereafter. “However, those with a family history of breast cancer must begin screening earlier. If a woman has a first-degree relative who was diagnosed with breast cancer she needs to begin self breast examinations as well as diagnostic screening such as mammograms earlier.”

She added “ My advice to women to be proactive and undergo healthy health screenings and mammograms according to their age or risk factors. They must take charge of their health.”

A breast cancer survivor as well as several health professionals including Dr Isaf Ghazi, consultant and head of surgery department at Dubai Hospital, Naglaa Darwish, Nutritionist and Jasmina Gafurovic, Psychotherapist and Life Coach took part in the awareness event to urge women to get screened regularly.