Doha: Hamad General Hospital (HGH) held a campaign to raise awareness about breast cancer among patients, families, and visitors.
The campaign, under the banner of Pink October, featured activities organised by the Community Affairs and Patient Engagement Department.
The two-day campaign involved teams of experts from Hamad Medical Corporation’s (HMC) National Center for Cancer Care and Research, Al Wakrah Hospital (AWH), and HGH who led insightful presentations and educational lectures in English and Arabic for patients, focusing on prevention and early diagnosis of breast cancer.
Executive Director of Community Affairs and Patient Engagement at HGH, Maitha Al Bouainain, said: “We are pleased to organize this important campaign at HGH to educate the public and our patients about how they can join in the fight against breast cancer. Breast cancer is the most common cancer in women in Qatar and understanding this disease can really help save lives as the sooner it is detected the more effective the treatment. This awareness-raising campaign also supports HMC’s efforts to inform the public about how they can take charge of their health, be proactive and lead a healthy lifestyle,” she added.
During the campaign, patients had the opportunity to gain knowledge about different topics pertinent to breast cancer; such as the subject of breast cancer and breastfeeding, the importance of maintaining a healthy diet, and the relationship between breast cancer and smoking. A demonstrative session allowed participants to learn how to do self-examination to check for symptoms of breast cancer. Participants were also encouraged to ‘Be Breast Aware’ and were reminded of five points: to know what is normal, know what changes to look for, to regularly look at and feel their breasts, to make an appointment with a doctor as soon as possible if any changes are observed, and to go for breast cancer screening if they are above 45. Representatives of the campaign distributed educational brochures and pink ribbons - the international symbol of breast cancer awareness - to the public at the main lobby of HGH. The campaign also saw the participation of Kirpal Kaur Matharoo, a 63-year-old breast cancer survivor who beat the disease after undergoing five sessions of chemotherapy and three rounds of surgery, including reconstructive surgery in 2012.
Her initial breast cancer diagnosis was 10 years ago in the UK. She said: “I was devastated, shocked and in disbelief. I was healthy; I did not smoke, or drink, so I kept thinking how could this happen to me?” With the support of her family, friends and charities in the UK, she gained motivation to become a fighter and help other women with breast cancer combat their illness.
The Peninsula
