Breast cancer screening and awareness events to be held across the UAE

Free screening and educational workshops are part of more than 50 events being organised this month by the Pink Caravan, a breast cancer awareness initiative by the Friends of Cancer Patients, to coincide with October, the International Breast Cancer Awareness Month.

Women enter the Pink Caravan mobile breast cancer screening unit. Wam
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SHARJAH // Free screenings and educational workshops are part of more than 50 events organised this month by the Pink Caravan – a breast cancer awareness initiative by the Friends of Cancer Patients (FoCP).

Seminars will focus on self-exam methods, dispelling myths and misconceptions about the disease and educating people about the importance of early detection – backed up by free screenings.

The events, part of the October International Breast Cancer Awareness Month, will be held at schools and businesses in collaboration with government and private organisations, Wam, the state news agency reported.

“The Pink Caravan strives to raise community awareness to combat breast cancer and promote the concept of early detection and regular check-ups among UAE society,” said Ameera Bin Karam, founding member of FoCP.

The campaign was founded in 2011 with the support of Sheikha Jawaher bint Mohammed Al Qasimi, wife of Dr Sheikh Sultan bin Mohammed Al Qasimi, Ruler of Sharjah.

Breast cancer is the most common cancer affecting women worldwide, accounting for 16 per cent of all cases, but the condition is treatable and curable if detected in its earliest stages, for which the five-year survival rate is about 98 per cent.

newsdesk@thenational.ae