#360fit: Fight against breast cancer in UAE spawns incredible initiatives

Josie McKenlay 09:51 17/09/2015
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  • (L to R): Brigitte Chemla, Linda Berlot, Dr. Houriya Kazim, Julia Godoy and Ghadeer Kunna.

    According to the World Health Organization’s 2009 statistics, one-third of breast cancer deaths worldwide could be decreased if detected and treated early.

    Higher awareness and regular screenings could help save nearly 400,000 lives every year.  

    October is worldwide breast cancer awareness month which is an annual campaign to increase knowledge of the disease and encourage people to take the steps to detect it in its early stages.

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    Here in the UAE, the Safe & Sound campaign – the largest and most comprehensive in the Middle East – is in its 19th year.

    The message of survival through early detection has reached more than 25 million people and raised over Dh2.5 million for patient care since its launch in 1997.

    These statistics, taken from the Dubai Health Authority website, will give you some idea of the importance of early detection:

    ► One in eight women will be diagnosed with breast cancer in their lifetime.
    ► Every 1.7 minutes a woman is diagnosed with breast cancer worldwide.
    ► There are about 2.6 million female survivors of breast cancer in the world
    ► 27 per cent survival rate in advanced stage
    ► 98 per cent survival rate in early detection
    ► 25 per cent of women with breast cancer are less than 50 years old
    ► About two to four of every 1,000 mammograms lead to a diagnosis of breast cancer.
    ► 70 per cent of women diagnosed with breast cancer have no identifiable risk factor for the disease
    ► Breast-feeding for one year or more may help prevent breast cancer. 

    This year Burjuman, Al Jalila Foundation, Brest Friends, uniCare Medical Centre and Safe & Sound have again all joined forces and hope to raise funds for local breast cancer research.  

    Dr Abdulkareem Al Olama, CEO of Al Jalila Foundation stated that: “According to recent studies the  incidence of breast cancer has risen by 20 per cent and women here are being diagnosed at a younger age than in the West ….. very little research on this issue is done locally. Instead, we are obliged to rely on resourcing from abroad, a considerably more costly option.”

    These alarming figures were echoed during a recent interview with Dr Houria Kazim who is the CEO of Dubai-based support group, Brest Friends in which she stated:

    “In the West, around 80 per cent of cases are diagnosed in women over the age of 50. In the Middle East, women are being diagnosed a decade younger and the cancer is more aggressive.  

    “I have talked with Al Jalila Foundation about setting up a national register so that we get a better understanding of breast cancer diagnoses here. Myself and other researchers are pushing forward plans to conduct breast cancer genetics research here, so we hope this will materialise over the next few years with the help of Al Jalila Foundation.”

    One of the ways in which this partnership hope to raise money this year is through the introduction of an app which will replace the traditional Safe & Sound Walkathon and hopefully enable the campaign to reach a wider audience.  

    Available from October to subscribers both in and outside the UAE, this new Safe & Sound app will allow users (individuals, groups or even corporations) to track the distance they walk and run and the app’s built in payment gateway makes donations directly to Al Jalila Foundation and Brest Friends very simple. 

    Burjuman has generously pledged to donate a further Dh100,000 to the campaign if the total distance walked through the app reaches 50,000kms in 2015.  

    Mr Leigh Regan, COO of Burjuman said: “Burjuman is incredibly proud to have been a part of an initiative that has touched the lives of so many women and their loved ones.

    As the campaign evolves with the development of the new Safe & Sound app, we are aiming to reach even more individuals with our message of survival through education and early detection.”

    Al Jalila Foundation is dedicated to saving lives and was founded in 2013 by HH Sheikh Mohammed Bin Rashid Al Maktoum; Brest Friends is Dubai’s only breast cancer support group.  The funds raised by this partnership will go directly towards life-saving medical research, awareness, treatment and support for patients with breast cancer in the UAE.  

    Proud association: Leigh Regan, COO of Burjuman.

    Linda Berlot is Vice Chairperson of Brest Friends, a Safe & Sound ambassador and breast cancer survivor. She said: “Through our partnership with Safe & Sound and Al Jalila Foundation, we hope to spread awareness of this disease and the importance of early detection through self-examination and regular health checks.  

    “A breast cancer diagnosis does not just affect the individual, it aff-ects her whole family. A community-wide campaign such as Safe & Sound 2015 will ultimately save lives through education, support and empowerment.”

    There will also be many in-mall events and external initiatives throughout October to raise awareness and raise funds.  

    UniCare Medical Centre will be running a number of activities during the month, for example, coupons for free check-ups and discounts on mammograms at their clinics in October.

    For more information check the campaign website http://www.safeandsound.ae/

    For a very informative video on breast cancer and self-examination go to http://www.brestfriends.org/

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