Eleven positive cases of breast cancer have been diagnosed as a direct result of the 2018 Pink Caravan Ride, the pan-UAE breast cancer awareness campaign organised by Friends of Cancer Patients UAE. From a total of nearly 8,000 screenings and clinical examinations, doctors and specialists referred the women, aged between 30-62 years for further examinations, which tested positive.

Four of the eleven women were residents of Sharjah, four in Ajman, two in Dubai and one in Ras Al Khaimah, demonstrating the effectiveness of the campaign across the emirates. The 8^th edition of the Pink Caravan Ride conducted 47 mammography tests at its mobile medical clinics, along with 254 mammography tests and 97 ultrasound examinations in partnership with private healthcare providers.

The women’s ages covered more than three decades, highlighting the need for regular check-ups and increasing awareness. Two of those who were diagnosed are in their early sixties, four in their mid-fifties, four in their forties and one women who is just 30 years old.

The results also showed a wide range of nationalities, with three Filipinos, two Sudanese, an Iraqi, a Jordanian, an Egyptian, a Moroccan, an Indian and a Palestinian lady now receiving treatment.

This year’s Pink Caravan Ride was the most comprehensive to date, offering its services to 687 more people than last year, and for the first time the Medical Awareness Committee kept a number of the fixed clinics operational for nine days after the campaign concluded, adding 2,635 extra checkups to the final tally.

The total number of those who are being treated or who have been treated through the Pink Caravan is 54, including 12 women in 2017, five of whom have completed their therapy and are attending FOCP moral support events.

Since the Pink Caravan Ride began in 2011, more than 56,000 clinical examinations have taken place, almost 20% of which have been men. The tests have included 16,462 mammograms and 2,232 ultrasounds.

HE Reem BinKaram, Head of the Pink Caravan’s Higher Steering Committee, said: “To be able to help these eleven women is a hugely gratifying part of the Pink Caravan campaign, and has potentially been a life-saving exercise for them. Equally, the increasing willingness of so many people to undertake screenings has been overwhelming and that reflects our key message of awareness.

“The cross-section of the community that these women come from shows that nobody is immune to breast cancer, whatever their background. Bearing mind that the youngest case is just 30 years old, the take-up of the Pink Caravan Ride’s offer of more than 5,000 clinical screenings for people below-40 is another indicator of heightened awareness.”

Bin Karam added: “Although breast cancer is among the leading fatal diseases in women, 98 percent of cases are curable if detected early and that realisation is sweeping across the emirate each year, resulting in greater participation and greater understanding.”

At the end of the eighth Pink Caravan Ride, clinical screenings, mammograms and expert medical advice has been offered to 7,795 people – the highest number the initiative has reached in its eight-year history. The stats breakup offered by the Medical Awareness Committee of ride includes 7,177 women and 618 men. These numbers comprise 1,557 locals and 6,238 expatriates, constituting 2,559 people in the 40+ age category and 5,236 individuals below 40 years of age. After the initial clinical screenings, 2,186 were referred for a mammogram, and 430 were advised to undergo an ultrasound.