Danat Al Emarat, a specialty women and children’s hospital in Abu Dhabi being managed by Singaporean ParkwayHealth, is hosting several programmes including educating women on the importance of regular screenings for early breast cancer detection across the emirate this month as part of its awareness campaign.

The initiative comes in line with the Health Authority Abu Dhabi's initiatives and will run at Danat Al Emarat Hospital for Women & Children in Abu Dhabi throughout the month.

As part of the campaign, the hospital hosted the leading media personality and motivational speaker Fadia Al Taweel, who spoke about her battle against breast cancer, which she began in 2003 soon after diagnosis and how she defeated it.

During her inspirational talk, Al Taweel also spoke of what she went through during treatment and how she decided to face her disease, live with it and fight it with positivity, determination and willpower.

"I was determined to beat it by being always positive and learning to cope with it, in addition to joining community support programs which play a key role in encouraging patients to be positive in every aspect of their lives," she remarked.

Highlighting the importance of early detection of breast cancer, Al Taweel said: "The best way to fight the menace is through regular checkups."

"Studies show that more than 90 per cent of cancer patients fully recover when the disease is diagnosed at an early stage," she stated.

Al Taweel also noted how early detection is now attainable, as healthcare authorities and healthcare providers, including Danat Al Emarat Hospital in Abu Dhabi, execute annual and regular awareness programs, educating women on the importance of regular screenings for early detection.

During her tour at the hospital, Al Taweel appraised the services provided at Danat Al Emarat Hospital, including the Women’s Diagnostic and Breast Imaging Center which has been accredited by the Health Authority Abu Dhabi for breast screening.  
 
Dr Mohammed Abdullatif, Breast Imaging and Radiology Specialist at Danat Al Emarat Hospital, spoke to her about the equipment and services provided at the department, and the importance of regular screening.

Dr Aseel Al Youzbaki, Obstetrics & Gynecology Specialist, said: "Through such talks in the community, we aim to urge women to adopt healthy lifestyles, perform monthly self-examinations and undergo necessary tests during different stages in their life."

"Women aged 40 years old and more must place breast screening in their list of priorities at least every two years, and if a woman had a first-degree relative with history of breast cancer, she must undergo annual screening at a younger age after consulting a doctor," stated Dr Al Youzbaki.

According to her, breast cancer was the world’s second most common cancer among women.

"However, it can be treated and fully cured if discovered at an early stage. International studies confirm that early diagnosis of breast cancer lead to higher survival rates of above 90 per cent, whereas the survival rates of late diagnosis - stages 2 and 3 - ranges between 60 and 70 per cent," she added.-TradeArabia News Service