UAE | Health
Fight without fear
Never be afraid, says breast cancer survivor as month-long awareness campaign gets under way in Dubai with 5,000 vouchers for free check-ups to be given away
- By Muby Asger, Staff reporter
- Published: 00:00 October 13, 2011
- Image Credit: Supplied
- The Safe and Sound campaign, which will run through the month of October at BurJuman, includes a host of activities to promote awareness of the disease.
Dubai: Sabina Khandwani, Head of PR and Marketing at BurJuman, lost her mother to breast cancer as a result of a late diagnosis. The pain was so deep, it motivated her to create national awareness of a disease that claims millions of lives. The result is Safe and Sound — a beat breast cancer campaign organised by BurJuman that is now in its 15th year.
"Operating as a platform with a wide outreach among key target audiences, BurJuman has chosen to dedicate the largest amount of its corporate social responsibility funds to a cause that concerns every single person. Even if breast cancer is known to be predominantly a female disease, everyone should be educated on the topic as cancer affects entire families and not just the individual suffering from it," says Khandwani.
Lending support to the campaign are a host of organisations, businesses, medical professionals and breast cancer survivors.
Dr Jaimala Shukla, specialist obstetrician/gynaecology from Unicare Medical Centre, and part of the Safe and Sound medical panel, says if detected early, a patient's survival rate is very good. "All women should learn to examine their breasts from the age of 20 onwards," she says.
Fellow panellist Dr Ashok Gupta, consultant plastic, aesthetic, laser and micro vascular surgeon, is the man who steps in once the cancer has been cured. Gupta dedicates a large part of his life giving women their femininity back through reconstructive surgery.
"Around 200,000 women across the globe undergo mastectomy each year, but only 75,000 had breast reconstruction in 2010," he says, adding, "Breast reconstruction is a physically and emotionally rewarding procedure for a woman who has lost a breast due to cancer. It's like a restoration of the symbol of femininity to boost a woman's self-image and confidence." Gupta, however, warns that surgery can only mimic a relatively natural-looking breast. "A reconstructed breast will never feel exactly the same as the breast that was removed," he says.
Free clinical examination
The Safe and Sound campaign, which will run through the month of October at BurJuman, includes a host of activities to promote awareness of the disease.
BurJuman is giving away 5,000 vouchers for a free clinical examination offered by Unicare Medical Centre. The vouchers, which can be picked up from the information counters at the mall, will allow any female UAE resident to avail of a clinical examination by a nurse who will also offer guidance on how to conduct self-checks.
Survival rates are as high as 90 per cent among cases detected at an early stage, says Khandwani. "Thousands of lives are saved by detecting the disease in its early stages and these clinical exams are one of the best ways to get women to think about getting checked on a regular basis," she says.
"When I was diagnosed with breast cancer, my instinct was to hide and ignore it, but I gave myself a mental kick and reminded myself that I have a wonderful husband and daughter to live for," says survivor Judelyne Al Kabt. "Since then I have become more courageous and am willing to talk and encourage other women to open up. My courage has helped my family and friends face their own demons. The key is to never be afraid. Fear kills. Do your self-examinations and if you find anything, go to the doctor. Do not ignore it and never ask ‘why me?'. Be open to talk to whoever is willing to listen, because your experience may help someone. And yes, men do get breast cancer too."
The fact that this physical illness is just as debilitating emotionally is no secret. "The psychological effects of breast cancer can range from acute emotional distress to depression," says Dr Anamika Vajpeyi, clinical psychologist at Unicare and part of the Safe and Sound medical panel. "Research on patients indicates that seeking psychological help enhances mental well-being and provides healthy coping mechanisms to improve levels of acceptance, confidence and interpersonal relationship in cancer survivors. The psychological impact is greater on young women as they have higher needs for approval, more familial and social responsibilities and an active sex life."
Twenty-seven-year-old survivor Lara Safar would like to ask every woman, "not just those above 40 and not just those who have a history of breast cancer in their family, to correct their perception that breast cancer only attacks women belonging to these two groups. I would like to urge all women to do regular check-ups. It's clichéd but true: Early detection can save your life".
- Events round-up
- Cakes for a Cause
- Oct. 13, BurJuman
- Women of Heart 2011
- Oct. 13 to 16, Dubai Festival City
- Express massage
- Oct. 13 to 23, Le Meridien Al Aqah Beach Resort
- Paddle for the Battle
- Oct. 20, Dubai Marina Yacht Club
- Pink Survivor Fashion show
- Oct. 21, BurJuman
- The World's Largest Pink Ribbon
- Oct. 21, Meydan Grandstand
- The Sew-A-Thon
- Oct. 21 and 22, Town Centre
- Think Pink Zumbathon
- Oct. 22, The Address Montgomerie, Emirates Hills
- Pink Walkathon
- Oct. 28, BurJuman
- Pink Polo
- Oct. 29, Ghantoot Racing and Polo Club Abu Dhabi
- Caramel Goes Pink
- Till Oct. 31, Caramel DIFC
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