Doha: Reminding people of the importance of the early detection of cancer in saving lives, ‘Screen For Life’, Qatar’s National Breast and Bowel Cancer Screening program, is launching a month-long awareness drive to mark the international Bowel Cancer Awareness Month in March.
Under the tagline ‘Don’t wait for symptoms’, Screen for Life’s Bowel Cancer Awareness Month is an initiative formed to tell people that because bowel cancer can be a non-symptomatic illness it is paramount not to wait until you feel the symptoms and to undergo screening as a precautionary measure.
Bowel cancer is the third most commonly diagnosed cancer in Qatar and a leading cause of death among men and women in the country.
In line with the global Bowel Cancer Awareness month, the ‘Screen For Life’ campaign will involve a series of reminder messages urging both men and women, specifically in the target age bracket of 50-74, to take a proactive approach to their health and book an appointment at one of the three dedicated screening facilities at Al Wakra, Leabaib and Rawdat Al Khail Health Centers.
The public will be reminded that they can carry out the Fecal Immuno-chemical Test (FIT) test with ease in the privacy of their own home and they can collect their complementary kit from one of the PHCC screening centers at Al Wakra, Leabaib and Rawdat Al Khail Health Centers. The over-arching message of the ‘Screen For Life’ campaign will reinforce the vital role screening plays in the early detection of bowel cancer.
“Bowel Cancer Awareness Month, and specifically the ‘Don’t wait for symptoms’ tagline is a great way for ‘Screen For Life’ to remind people that even though they aren’t experiencing any symptoms they should still take the initiative and get screened.
“It is a vitally important message to get across. Our month-long campaign is a great opportunity to further remind people that screening is available now and all-year round, and that there is somewhere people can turn for help and advice,” said Dr Shaikha Abu Shaikha, Cancer Program Manager, PHCC.
“We will be delivering powerful messages encouraging people that everybody has a part to play in raising awareness and sharing the importance of screening as collectively we work to tackle this illness and ease the local and global burden of cancer.”
Bowel Cancer Awareness Month will be marked by a dark blue awareness ribbon which will be distributed in the screening clinics, and throughout the awareness activities.
To book an appointment for screening, call the dedicated call center on 8001112.
