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It’s that time of the year again when thousands of men and women in the kingdom ‘Think Pink’ and are being urged to go and get checked in a bid to spread awareness about breast cancer.
Every October, during the official ‘Breast Cancer Awareness Month’, healthcare professionals, government officials and volunteers come together in a combined effort to help tackle the disease that continues to rob so many families of their loved ones.
According to the World Health Organisation, breast cancer is the most common cancer in women both in the developed and less-developed world. It is estimated that worldwide over 508,000 women died in 2011 due to breast cancer.
In Bahrain, more than 80 cases of breast cancer are detected every year and one in eight people are likely to develop breast cancer in their lifetime.
Breast cancer survival rates vary greatly worldwide, ranging from 80 per cent or over in North America, Sweden and Japan to around 60 per cent in middle-income countries and below 40 per cent in low-income countries.
The low survival rates in less developed countries can be explained mainly by the lack of early detection programmes, resulting in a high proportion of women presenting with late-stage disease, as well as by the lack of adequate diagnosis and treatment facilities.
Since 2004, charity champions Think Pink Bahrain, a non-profit organisation founded by Jules Sprakel, has been staging fundraising events and other breast cancer awareness initiatives. It donated BD120,000 during the first three years towards the national mammography campaign after which it also concentrated on education, awareness and diagnosis which is evident in the establishment of its three funds to date.
What started as a one-off event to mark its founder’s 30th birthday is now a nationwide initiative. Supporters of Think Pink Bahrain not only continue to work on raising awareness and funds, but they also donate their time, expertise and business acumen to support the ongoing efforts of the charity.
All funds that have been raised through gala’s, golf days and other fun events has been directed to a national campaign for the early detection of breast disease, which screens Bahraini women over the age of 40.
Jules said: “Think Pink Bahrain is dedicated to increasing breast cancer awareness issues, especially early detection, thereby saving lives. Since inception, Think Pink Bahrain has supported various breast cancer initiatives on the island specifically early intervention, education and awareness.”
Last year, the charity handed over the princely sum of BD245,249.500 to purchase a state-of-the-art digital MRI machine which will provide an essential tool in the battle to reduce the number of breast cancer deaths in the kingdom as early diagnosis of the disease is often a vital aspect of successful treatment.
The long-awaited machine costing BD490,499 will be installed in Salmaniya Medical Complex’s (SMC) new Radiology and Diagnostic Centre. The second instalment is scheduled to be paid when the machine arrives in Bahrain and a third and final payment made when the equipment is up-and-running.
The new medical equipment is part of Phase One of the Ministry of Health’s (MoH) plan for revamping SMC’s radiology department and was originally scheduled to be operational for nationals and expats alike in February.
However, Dr Suzanne Abbas, SMC’s consultant neuro-radiologist and the department’s chairperson, said the equipment’s arrival had to coincide with the building of an expanded facility because there had been no suitable place in the original 1,000-bed complex to house it.
Creative planning has allowed space to be dedicated for it as a result of the hospital’s intensive care unit and pharmacy being moved into another area and work continues on the project.
According to Jules, this will be only the second breast-specific MRI available in the region. However, it cannot be purchased until the facility is MRI-ready and work only started progressing in July. The MoH has issued a letter of apology over the delay and believes the facility should be finished in the first quarter of next year.
Undeterred, it’s business as usual for Jules and the team of volunteers continuing with a comprehensive community iCheck initiative. She said: “The campaign has been broadcast since 2013 and continued to stay the same given the power behind the message. This campaign was developed on the basis of a research paper highlighting the power of the male members of the community empowering the females in their immediate families to be breast-aware.
“The decision to keep it going for two years was to reinforce the point and I think this has been successful. We use empowering artwork as scare tactics have only negative connotations and stop people either checking themselves or being checked.
“People are becoming more aware of breast cancer but we still have people across the world listening to taboos which have no evidence. And given a cultural discourse in the GCC, this also needs to be overcome.
“This is, in part, the reason why we have developed a research fund and further announcements will be made at the start of 2016 with all funds raised in 2015 being directed towards this goal.
“We have successfully piloted a local study and believe that the findings will impact how we go about addressing and supporting the people of Bahrain with breast cancer issues “We are also hoping to drive the awareness further, given that the MRI Fund is closed as of November 2014.
“The community needs to be aware of the enormity of such a project and the decision to change the location from Oncology to Radiotherapy Department has meant that the end user - the patient, has been considered and factored in.
“It is not as simple as a machine being bought and installed. The magnet for this piece of equipment requires chillers and appropriate ventilation. The sheer size of the machine needs to be considered.
“The delay has meant that we purchase the latest piece of equipment for the community and that was why there was a further BD90,000 increase from the previous price.
“We have managed to achieve this with all the support via official events, official merchandise and private donations - for which we are appreciative of.”
The charity’s vice chairwoman and owner of Burlesque boutique, Tahera Al Alawi, is proud of how far the campaigners have come and believes that continuing education should start at a grass root level.
She said: “When you take a pink class or wear the ribbon on your shirt you are standing by the charity and thousands of women in our fight against breast cancer. Being aware and proactive about your health is very important.
“If the campaign encourages women to have their monthly self-examinations and yearly clinical examinations, then that is an achievement in itself. If the campaign helps one woman or man come forward with his or her fears then that is an achievement too as we would be able to guide them and support them.”
