Dubai: The Pink Caravan annual campaign is expanding its reach every year by setting up breast cancer detection screening clinics in different communities with The Indian High School being its latest stop.
Teachers, librarians, nurses, drivers and canteen staff at the school, along with parents, were invited to undergo tests for early detection of breast cancer at the clinic, which was held on the school’s premises from 8am to 6pm on Wednesday.
“Despite all the coverage on early detection of breast cancer, plenty of women are still not getting checked and are unaware of the risks and cure rates. The message we want to send to women is that early detection makes all the difference,” said Dr Lamice Khaleel, specialist in Gynaecology, who is volunteering at the campaign.
She advised women over 40 years to get a breast mammogram done at least once every two years, and for those with breast cancer history in their families, to get examined once a year after the age of 35.
“Breast cancer can now be treated 95-98 per cent when detected early. We are also detecting the disease at even earlier stages before it comes probable through mammograms to increase the cure rate,” said Dr Khaleel.
Gulf News talked to biology teacher Julie S., who was lining up to take the test for the first time. “Since it’s a free campaign, I thought I would enrol myself for the early detection test. I have been following the Pink Caravan campaign through stories published in the newspapers, and I was happy to know they will be stopping at our school,” she said.
After reading about the risks and cure rates, Julie said she understood the importance of early detection and would be taking regular tests in the future.
Just the same, Shycy Joseph, a physics teacher at the school, said it was the first time she got screened for breast cancer. “Nowadays, breast cancer is very common, and I am nearing the age of 40, so I thought it was important for me to get checked. Through this campaign, I have learnt how to do self-examination, and I will be practising that regularly,” she said.
The clinic at the school was expecting more than 250 people, with the morning hours proving to be the busiest, Smriti Shekhawat, school coordinator for social media and publications, said earlier in the day when Gulf News visited the clinic.
“This campaign is very important because breast cancer is something we, woman and men, tend to neglect, and by spreading awareness and placing clinics around Dubai, people cannot ignore it; they are compelled to undergo the test,” she added.
