Hospital in Al Ain launches breast cancer awareness drive

You are precious to me, please have a mammogram. This is what men and families have been encouraged to ask their women persuading them to go for check-up in the battle against breast cancer. The slogan is part of Tawam Hospital's campaign against that says early detection opportunities of the killer disease have increased. This is vital in the battle against breast cancer as early detection is a crucial factor in predicting the prognosis for a woman with the disease, said an official at the Breast Care Centre of Tawam Hospital. The campaign has been organised in line with the global initiative of International Breast Cancer Awareness month. "Every woman is a mother, a daughter or sister or just a friend. While being diagnosed with [breast cancer] can be a shattering experience for her and her loved ones," said Gregory Schaffer, CEO of the Tawam Hospital. He said the message the hospital want to communicate is that screening is nothing to fear - early diagnosis is of critical importance, which is why mammograms are so vital. "A significant amount of Tawam's efforts this year are directed at men, to appeal to their loved ones to go for screening, urging men to ask their wives, mothers and sisters to consider mammograms, and to tell them, ‘You are precious to me, please have a mammogram'," he added. Breast Cancer, said Schaffer, is the most common cancer among women worldwide, and raising awareness of how all members of community can play a role in its prevention. Based on the Abu Dhabi Community Profile findings, prepared by the Breast Cancer Awareness Team at Health Authority-Abu Dhabi (HAAD), breast cancer has been identified as the first of the ten most common cancers in the UAE for both national and non-national women. It is the second highest killer disease of women in the UAE, accounting for 28 per cent of deaths in women. It has the highest mortality rate of 44 per cent in Abu Dhabi Emirate that is thought to be due to late diagnosis, he said. Sine MacDonald, Nursing Manager at the Breast Care Centre of Tawam Hospital, said the hospital had implemented numerous awareness activities and programmes over the course of recent years with a great deal of success. This year the hospital is building upon the accomplishments once again, reaching more people including the most remote corners of the Emirate. Tawam Hospital, running in affiliation with Johns Hopkins Medicine, was the first hospital in the Middle East to launch mobile mammography facilities when it launched a dedicated mammography van in 2009. "This month Tawam will continue to offer mammogram screening and advice to women over the age of 40_the most at risk of developing the disease according to statistics," she added. Breast cancer walk Tawam Hospital has partnered with Al Bawadi Mall in Al Ain to organise a series of educational programs for different community groups and an annual fun run. The fun run will be held on October 28 for which a number schools and clinics have volunteered their resources, said an official of the hospital. The run will start at 3pm from Al Bawadi Mall and participants have been offered valuable prizes including air tickets and entertainment. The hospital has established an information desk at the mall. For more information on Tawam's Breast Cancer Awareness activities, or to arrange a screening appointment, people have been asked to call Tawam's Breast Care Centre on 0501069713. They can also visit one of Tawam's Primary Health Centres such as Neima Clinic, Jahli Clinic, and Al Wagan Hospital.