Manama: A tendency to delay seeking treatment for breast cancer is putting Arab women at risk in the region.
"Arab women are at significant risk due to the lack of early diagnosis and treatment for this disease because they are often diagnosed at advanced stages of breast cancer," Dr Tam Truong Donnelly, Associate Professor, Faculty of Nursing at the Calgaru University in Qatar, said reporting on the findings of a three-year study.
“What we want to determine is how Arab women view breast cancer screening. The information gathered will be used to formulate an appropriate educational programme and health services that will be Qatar-sensitive and Qatar-appropriate to promote screening activity for Arab women," Donnelly was quoted by Qatari daily The Peninsula as saying.
Studies have shown that screening and early detection reduce breast cancer mortality rates by 35 to 30 per cent. However, the limited amount of data available from Qatar and other countries in the Middle East suggests that Arab women are wary of undergoing breast cancer screening and using available medical services.
"Intervention strategies should be comprehensive, culturally sensitive, appropriate for Arab women and applicable to the social context of Qatar," she said.
However, research has shown that often religious and cultural beliefs stop women from seeking treatment for the dreaded disease.
Improving women’s perceptions, knowledge of and beliefs about breast cancer and screening, together with aspects of the health care system, would help towards reducing the risk of breast cancer, she added.
Karen Al Kharouf, an activist at Think Pink Qatar, said Qatar's breast cancer awareness campaigns, which took place over the month of October have a lasting impact.
"Qatar is looking at more aspects of awareness, even after October. The country is educating its citizens," she said. "Qatar is now getting into a massive awareness campaign in universities and schools. This will make daughters talk to their mothers about the symptoms and the need of early diagnoses can cure."
Several campaigns, including workshops, lectures, walks and a pink hijab day, were held to create awareness about breast cancer.
"The US took 20 years to promote awareness about breast cancer. The Arab women do not talk in public about symptoms due to the cultural background. Other Gulf countries such as Kuwait, Bahrain and Jordan too have dynamic awareness programmes," said Karen.
