Women above 40 told to undergo mammography

The Health Authority - Abu Dhabi (HAAD) is urging all women aged 40 and above to undergo mammogram screening during the annual Pink Polo event at 2pm today at the Ghantoot Racing and Polo Club. The collaboration between HAAD and Pink Polo is part of the on-going efforts related to the recent launch of the ‘Cancer Wave Heath Promotion Project’, under the slogan ‘Live Healthy & Simply Check’ by HAAD. The public are also invited to attend an exciting game of the distinguished sport polo, in addition to various other entertainment programmes running throughout the day. The fun-filled family day will hold numerous activities that include pony rides, falcon shows, golf lessons, camel polo, photo sessions with polo players and reserved picnic areas, all provided free-of-charge. The event is considered one of the most important running events in Abu Dhabi related to breast cancer awareness. “According to the latest statistics on cancer done in Abu Dhabi, breast cancer was found to be the most common, accounting for 25 per cent of all cancer cases with 45 per cent of cancer in females being related to the disease,” said Dr Omniyat Al Hajri, director of Public Health and Policy at HAAD. At the event, a dedicated forum ‘Pink Majlis’ will allow attendees to have direct discussions with medical experts who will inform them about self-examination techniques and will provide free screening. HAAD’s statistics showed a major drop in the number of late detections of breast cancer from 65 per cent in 2007 down to 25 per cent in 2011. These figures are an indication of the increased awareness specifically amongst women, and the public in general. Breast cancer today, is the number one type of cancer affecting women not only in the UAE but also worldwide. One in eight women is at risk of developing breast cancer at some point in her life. More than 1.1 million women are diagnosed with breast cancer each year worldwide, resulting in 410,000 deaths annually. In Abu Dhabi, around 130 women are diagnosed annually with breast cancer, majority of which are between 45 and 54 years old. It is worth noting that breast cancer can be successfully treated or cured in as many as 98 per cent of cases, when detected early. From : Khalij