DUBAI // Hundreds gathered at the Ghantoot Racing and Polo Club on Friday united in the fight against breast cancer.
The Pink Polo event, now in its fifth year, aims to raise awareness of the cancer that is the UAE’s second biggest killer of women after cardiovascular disease.
Funds raised at the event, of which Abu Dhabi Media, publisher of The National, is a partner, go towards medical research.
The polo match, featuring Sheikha Maitha bint Mohammed Al Maktoum, playing for the Abu Dhabi Commercial Bank team, was preceded by family attractions including pony rides, face painting and a military skydiving show.
Polo players decked out in pink shirts were greeted by cheers from the crowd at the free event that pitted Team Maserati against ADCB, with the latter running out 6-4 winners.
At the health education area, a Pink Clinic was set up for visitors to meet medical experts and breast-cancer survivors, learn self-examination techniques and have free screenings at a mobile mammography unit.
Lifeline Hospital’s Afreen Showkat was an X-ray technician at the event, carrying out screenings. She said events like this were vital for the community.
In Abu Dhabi, the disease accounts for 22 per cent of all cancers, and 41 per cent among women.
“Breast cancer is really growing and people just aren’t aware,” she said.
“Just having these events to make people aware of the self-examination they can do themselves, without even having to leave home and go to the doctor, is so important.”
Mammograms were free to women over 40 or those who had shown symptoms and pain.
Siham Naanaa is a nurse with Pink Caravan. Education, she said, was key at such events. “We are here to educate ladies and encourage them to self-examine to have early detection,” she said. She recommended that women over 40 should have mammograms every two years but, for those with a family history of cancer, it should be every year.
“People should start self-examination from 20 years old,” Ms Naanaa said. “They should also do clinical examinations with their doctor every year.”
The optimal time for a woman to check is 6 to 10 days after the first day of her monthly cycle, she said, adding that leaflets were being given out to spread the message of early detection and show women how to self-examine.
Dr Saif Darwish, head of Health Authority Abu Dhabi’s cancer prevention and control programme, said there was still work to be done to educate women of the importance of regular mammograms, although he said numbers of those having them were rising.
Until only recently, cultural stigma had surrounded breast cancer but, slowly, things are changing.
“In the past, some people could not even say cancer,” he said. “They thought it was a genetic disease that could go to the children. Some even thought it would mean they wouldn’t be able to get married, but this has changed a lot.”
He said most cases seen in Abu Dhabi now were in stage one or two but not long ago, it was three or four. In stages one or two, a high percentage of sufferers are successfully treated.
In spite of the positive changes, Dr Darwish said now was not the time to be complacent. “We still need to raise the awareness of the importance of the mammogram, change the cultural stigma of the disease and raise the support for sufferers,” he said.
The event also carried a healthy living message and trainers from Abu Dhabi Country Club were on hand to involve people in taster fitness classes and games such as battle ropes and jumping games.
Paula Teasdale, co-head of group fitness at the club, said: “The nation needs to get fit and getting kids involved at as young an age as possible is important.”
mswan@thenational.ae
