635 Pink Caravan visitors referred for mammograms

An official of the Pink Caravan campaign Sunday revealed that out of the 1,600 people screened for breast cancer, 635 were referred for mammograms. "The visitors were referred to have mammograms for two reasons either because they were above 40 years of age and had to take the necessary precautions, or because they had some abnormal signs and needed further investigation," said Dr Sawsan Al Madhi, Secretary General of Friends of Cancer Patients and Head of Pink Caravan Medical Committee. The Pink Caravan campaign was held from April 2 to 11. It travelled across the country in order to provide men and women with early screening with the Sure Touch examination. Dr Sawsan said 1,537 women and 63 men visited the mobile caravan, and that 567 were normal referrals while 68 were abnormal referrals. However, Dr Sawsan explained that even though some visitors showed abnormal signs in their early screening for breast cancer detection, not all of them were malignant. "In most of the cases, we suspected that the visitors had benign tumours. According to international statistics, eight out of ten cases are benign," she said. The campaign will run annually until 2014, focusing on all areas, including remote and outlying areas. The funds raised during the campaign will ensure the availability of the latest technology in the early screening and detection of breast cancer. This year's mobile campaign was horse-drawn and the pink equine equipment has been donated to the Monyati Initiatives Sudan project for the rescued horses of the Miracles Sudan riding school for children with special needs. "It has already been on a long journey with us since Bonjour Equestrian donated it to the Pink Caravan campaign in support of its journey across the UAE. The equipment helped the campaign to raise awareness of breast cancer and the importance of early detection. Its bright colour helped to draw attention to the caravan itself and to our aims," said Ameerah Bin Karam, President of the Friends of Cancer Patients. "It is our hope that by passing it on to another worthy cause, it will continue to draw attention to the cause it supports, and will also brighten the hearts of those children who will be using it," she added. From / Gulf News