As part of its efforts to transform healthcare in Qatar and the wider region, the Qatar Biomedical Research Institute (QBRI) at Hamad Bin Khalifa University (HBKU) recently joined a week-long series of activities to raise awareness on breast cancer.
Activities commenced with a QBRI-manned booth at the ‘Walk to Support’ event organised by Qatar Cancer Society (QCS) at Doha Corniche. Scientists from QBRI talked about the importance of early detection while providing facts and dispelling myths about breast cancer.
‘Walk to Support’ highlights the importance of periodic examinations and healthier lifestyles to combat breast cancer. Two days later, QBRI scientist Dr Julie Decock also delivered an informal talk at Aspire Ladies Club to a group of women. Activities concluded with a ladies-only event for the QCS ‘Our Passion in Our Health’ programme. The programme included a series of awareness sessions covering the most common cancers afflicting women in Qatar.
Speaking about the campaign, QBRI Executive Director Dr Omar El Agnaf, said that breast cancer awareness campaigns are important for so many reasons.
The good news is that, if detected early, there is a 90% survival rate. Physically active women are less likely to develop breast cancer than their inactive counterparts.’
He said that while breast cancer prevalence in the Arab region is similar to other parts of the world, studies nevertheless suggest that Arab women may experience a more aggressive form of the condition and may suffer at a younger age.
This underlines the importance of the QBRI Cancer Research Center, which focuses on the cellular and molecular basis of cancer initiation. To this end, HBKU remains totally committed to raising awareness and combatting the causes and effects of breast cancer.’
QBRI regularly holds events to highlight its research activities and awareness campaigns. For more information about the institute, visit qbri.hbku.edu.qa.
