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Bahrain Cancer Society (BCS) is in its third year of running a National Campaign for Screening Breast Disease. The campaign commenced in the latter half of 2005 and aims to reach out to thousands of women across the island. The campaign's objective is to encourage women to go in for screening for early detection of breast cancer.
"According to 2004 national census there are 52,961 women above the age of 40 years and our campaign is aimed at all those women. Since August 2005 till January 2007 we screened 15,075 women out of which 14,770 were Bahrainis and the rest were expatriate residents. From the mammography results 1,820 were sent to Salmaniya Medical Complex (SMC) for further investigation and 90 women between the ages of 46 to 50 years were diagnosed as having breast cancer," said Dr Abdul Rehman Ibrahim Fakhro, president and founding member of BCS, senior consultant, general surgeon and breast disease specialist at SMC.
According to BCS officials Bahrain is the only country in the world to run a national campaign for breast cancer. It is the only country in GCC to offer free mammography to women, local and residents, in any of its five satellite centres dotted on the island.
"We do a maximum of 250 mammograms a month. Anyone over the age of 40 years or those having a strong family history of breast cancer can go to our health centres situated in each of our governorates and have themselves screened," added Ahmed Ali, head of Publicity Committee and secretary to the board at BCS. Mr Ali, 51, Bahraini, has been volunteering at BCS since 1999.
BCS's initiatives at raising breast cancer awareness don't simply end at screening. They distribute pamphlets outlining methods of self examination. Health care specialists regularly visit universities, banks, companies and give lectures and presentations on breast cancer awareness and early detection.
The designated health centres offering mammograms are staffed exclusively by female technicians so that women shy of going through the screening are comfortable in an all female environment.
"Breast cancer is increasing at an alarming rate and cure cannot be achieved until detected early. It is lethal if not tackled. We face a lot of difficulties during the campaign but the two most common ones are that firstly people or rather women are not aware of the magnitude of the disease and secondly women, both educated and not so aware, go in denial when diagnosed with the disease," Dr Fakhro added.
Although BCS and the campaign itself are supported by the Ministry of Health, the society suffers from lack of volunteers committed to the cause. Funding is also imperative to keep the awareness and screening drive alive.
The campaign was sponsored by Batelco for the first two years. BCS received BD400,000 from Batelco and raised the rest from various fundraisers. Since 2007, BCS with help from Think Pink, sponsorships and fundraisers is funding the campaign itself.
In 2006, BCS raised BD20,000 at its first ever walkathon held at the Bahrain International Circuit. This year BCS is organising a 5.2 kilometres walkathon on Friday from 4.30pm till 5.30pm at Al Ghous Corniche. Admission fee is BD1 and registration begins at 2.30pm.
Nuaim Health Centre
Aali Health Centre
NBB Health Centre in Arad
Mohammad Bin Jasim Kanoo Health Centre
Hamad Kanoo Health Centre
Bahrain Cancer Society: 17285194, 17233080
