UAE doctors back DHA's breast cancer awareness campaign

The EMA and DHA will play joint host to the UAE's first multi-disciplinary conference dedicated to breast cancer on October 29 to mark the end of international breast cancer awareness month.

The event is one of a number of joint initiatives that will take place throughout the year as part of a 12-month awareness campaign, which is being fully supported by both organisations.

All 5,000 members of the EMA, regardless of their specialty, will be encouraged to attend the event that will feature presentations from local and international breast cancer experts, according to EMA President Dr. Ali Al Numairy.

"We are going to encourage all our members to go as we think that breast cancer is one of the most important cancers in the UAE. It has been increasing in incidence during the past two to three decades due to a number of factors, making it a top priority for the EMA,"

he said.

The EMA's Oncology Society has contributed to the development of the conference's scientific programme, which will include seminars on the latest diagnostic and screening practices, treatment regimens, pathology reporting, as well as practical guidance on breast examination and referral protocols.

Conference attendees will be eligible for continuing medication education points which are a required part of re-licensing for medical professionals across the country. The event is also being endorsed by the American Clinical Oncology Society (ASCO).

"Breast cancer is 100% curable if it is diagnosed early and properly treated. A conference like this will do two things: raise awareness to a national level, and educate healthcare professionals how to detect the disease early on, and how to access the best treatments," added Dr. Numairy, a plastic surgeon who performs breast reconstruction.

Following the conference the EMA's Cancer Society plans to run educational symposiums on breast cancer at more than 50 general hospitals across the UAE to extend knowledge among a wider audience of healthcare professionals.

The conference is one of a number of initiatives that has been developed by Dubai Hospital's multi disciplinary Breast Cancer Awareness Committee, which is spearheading the DHA's campaign.

Figures from Dubai Hospital released last month show that 80% of newly diagnosed cases of breast cancer are at an advanced stage, a situation that severely reduces chances of survival, according to committee lead, Dr. Shaheenah Dawood, a senior specialist registrar in oncology at Dubai Hospital and member of the EMA's Oncology Society.

"The first UAE multidisciplinary breast cancer conference is scheduled to run from October 29th to the 31st and will offer a series of training workshops and didactic lectures, as well as tumour boards, where real live cases will be discussed by expert local and international faculty members."

"In addition to the immense support given by both DHA and the EMA, ASCO has endorsed the conference, ensuring the event will be of an international standard," Dr. Shaheenah added.