Breast cancer conference to help fight disease
Reported August 14, 2009
Dubai: Doctors from across the UAE are joining forces with the Dubai Health Authority (DHA)Dubai Health Authority (DHA) to raise awareness of breast cancer in a bid to improve early detection and survival rates from the disease, the Emirates Medical Association (EMA) announced.
will play joint host to the UAE’s first multi-disciplinary conference dedicated to breast cancer on October 29 to mark the end of international breast cancer awareness month.
The event is one of a number of joint initiatives that will take place throughout the year as part of a 12-month awareness campaign, which is being supported by both organisations.
All 5,000 members of the EMA, regardless of their speciality, will be encouraged to attend the event that will feature presentations from local and international breast cancer experts, according to EMA President Dr Ali Al Numairi.
“We are going to encourage all our members to go as we think that breast cancer is one of the most important cancers in the UAE. It has been increasing in incidence during the past two to three decades due to a number of factors, making it a top priority for the EMA,” he said.
The EMA’s Oncology Society has contributed to the development of the conference’s scientific programme, which will include seminars on the latest diagnostic and screening practices, treatment regimens, pathology reporting, as well as practical guidance on breast examination and referral protocols.
Conference attendees will be eligible for continuing medication education points which are a required part of re-licensing for medical professionals across the country. The event is also being endorsed by the American Clinical Oncology Society.
“Breast cancer is 100 percent curable if it is diagnosed early and properly treated. A conference like this will do two things: raise awareness to a national level, and educate healthcare professionals how to detect the disease early-on, and how to access the best treatments,” added Dr Numairi, a plastic surgeon who performs breast reconstruction.
Source : Gulf News 2009
