Bowel cancer is the second most commonly diagnosed cancer in Qatar and a leading cause of death among men and women within the country. Qatar’s National Breast and Bowel Cancer Screening programme ‘Screen for Life’, is delivering its 4th annual campaign to mark the international ‘Bowel Cancer Awareness Month’ in March 2019.
Throughout March, the campaign aims to remind people of the importance of screening and consequently aiding in detecting signs of cancer in saving lives. This year there will be a different approach, whereby community members who have been through screening and experienced the process will be encouraging others to get screened too as part of the ‘I Got Screened and Encourage You Too’ slogan.
In line with the globally held Bowel Cancer Awareness month, the ‘Screen for Life’ campaign will involve a series of encouraging messages urging both men and women, specifically in the target age group of 50 -74, to take a proactive approach to their health. They are advised that they can carry out the Fecal Immunochemical Test (FIT) test with ease and in the privacy of their own home after they collect the kit from the health centres.
It is recommended to book a screening appointment at any one of the three dedicated facilities at PHCC (Primary Health Care Corporation), with the Health Centres listed below:
- Al Wakra
- Leabaib
- Rawdat Al Khail
The Breast & Bowel screening suite at PHCC’s Leabaib Health Centre has recently expanded its service, increasing screening capacity to more than 50 participants per day and offering more than 250 screening opportunities per week. The suite in Leabaib Health Centre comprises of three assessment clinics, catering individually for men and women, with opening hours allotted from 7 am–2 pm and from 3 pm–10 pm.
Under the theme ‘I Got Screened and Encourage You Too’ the month-long campaign incorporates a comprehensive range of activities including intensive educational lectures.
There are Registration Booths in:
- Villaggio Mall from 4-15 March
- Gulf Mall from 16-31 March
- LuLu Hypermarket D-ring and Al Gharrafa from 17-31 March
Feel free to visit the booths and sign up for screening.
You are considered at risk for bowel cancer if you have one or more of the following criteria:
- If you are 50+ years old because most incidents of the disease occur in older people.
- You have had bowel cancer or polyps in the past. Previous incidents increase your risk in the future.
- Inflammatory intestinal conditions: ulcerative colitis, Crohn’s disease and other chronic inflammatory diseases of the bowel may increase your risk of bowel cancer.
- Genetic predispositions: certain genetic issues, such as familial adenomatous polyposis and hereditary nonpolyposis bowel cancer (Lynch syndrome) increase your risk of bowel cancer.
- Family history: if a close family member (parent, sibling) has had bowel cancer or polyps, your risk increases—due to genetics or shared exposure to a carcinogen or similar lifestyle choices.
- Low-fiber, high-fat diet: Bowel cancer may be associated with a diet low in fibre and high in fat.
- A sedentary lifestyle: regular exercise may reduce the risk of bowel cancer.
- Diabetes: the risk increases for those with diabetes and insulin resistance.
- Obesity: the risk of contracting and dying from bowel cancer increases for people who are obese.
- Smoking may increase the risk of developing bowel cancer.
- Alcohol: heavy drinking may increase the risk of bowel cancer.
- Radiation therapy for cancer: exposure to radiation therapy, particularly if directed at the abdomen, to treat previous cancers may increase the risk.
The awareness programs have been designed to encourage men and women not to delay and to call the call centre at 800 1112 and book a screening appointment at one of the dedicated screening suites at Al-Wakra, Leabaib and Rawdat Al Khail Health Centres.
