Safe & Sound campaign calls for annual mammograms and regular self-examinations

Like we protect our skin from the sun to prevent cancer, the campaign advises all women not to neglect other parts of the body which are vulnerable to cancer.

With the ultraviolet rays of the sun taking their toll on the skin of both tourists and UAE residents, a number of BurJuman's retail partners have stocked ultra-high sun protection factor sunscreen to protect themselves against cancer-causing sun exposure.

Most of the time, individuals suffering from skin cancer are not aware that they are suffering from the skin condition.

With any type of cancer, early detection can saves lives and this is emphasized by the Safe & Sound breast cancer awareness campaign that highlights that breast cancer is one of the biggest killers of women in the UAE and is often diagnosed during later stages of the disease.

The program therefore encourages women to do regular self-examinations right through the summer months, and further testing including mammographies and clinical consultations annually.

"The summer season tends to bring about more vigilance in protection against skin cancer, but holidays and more relaxed routines may cause many women to forget their monthly self-examination to prevent breast cancer,"

said Sabina Khandwani, Head of PR and Marketing, BurJuman.

"It is our hope that with this summer reminder; we can build further awareness about breast cancer prevention and raise awareness throughout the year, making it a year-long public education initiative centered on early breast cancer detection, diagnosis and treatment," added Khandwani.

"While women are checking their skin for any changes caused by sun exposure, it's also the ideal time to perform self-examination for changes in their breasts, especially with statistics showing an increase in the incidence of breast cancer around the world,"

said Dr. Ottmar Schmidt, Director Marketing and Public Relations of Welcare World Health Systems and member of the Safe & Sound Steering committee.