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Tribune News Network
Doha
HAMAD Medical Corporation (HMC), in collaboration with the Primary Health Care Corporation (PHCC), continues to raise the level of breast cancer awareness in Qatar through a number of media engagements and outreach activities as part of October's Breast Cancer International Awareness Month.
The joint efforts are aimed at raising awareness of breast cancer and increasing public understanding of the importance of prevention and early detection of the disease.
According to the Qatar National Cancer Registry at the Ministry of Public Health, breast cancer represented 38.78 percent of overall cancer diagnosis in women in Qatar during 2014.
Breast cancer ranks as the top cancer in Qatar with 17.42 percent, followed by colon cancer at 10.55 percent. The highest incidence of breast cancer, at 16.2 percent, occurs in women aged between 45 and 49 years old.
Dr Mufid El Mistiri, senior consultant oncology and head of the Cancer Registry Section, National Cancer Care Center and Research at HMC and Assistant Professor of Clinical Medicine, Weill Cornell Medical College Qatar, stated:"It is important that we take advantage of Breast Cancer International Awareness Month to work hand in hand with our healthcare partners."
"Our ultimate goal is to enhance the health and well-being of our community through fostering a healthy population. This goal cannot be achieved without empowering women and inspiring hope in those affected by breast cancer through early detection, education and support services. Our joint efforts over the years have significantly improved the survival rates for breast cancer patients."
Dr Shaikha Abu Shaikha, cancer programme manager at PHCC, said:"Cancer can be prevented and by working with partners such as HMC during October's Breast Cancer Awareness Month, we are bringing the discussion to the top of the agenda for women across Qatar."
Speaking about the collaboration, Dr al Hareth M al Khater, senior consultant physician, deputy medical director at National Center for Cancer Care and Research and Chairman of the Corporate Healthcare Ethics Committee at HMC, said:"We need to work in collaboration with our partners to send a consistent message that helps raise people's awareness of the life-saving benefits of breast cancer screening.''
HMC is one of the key participants in an annual breast cancer conference led by the Qatar Cancer Society which will be held on October 28 and 29, 2016. The two-day conference will bring together oncologists, surgeons, gynaecologists, psychologists and other healthcare professionals from across the world.
HMC has invited six international speakers to share information about up-to-date breast cancer research, practical programmes of breast cancer care and screening services.
