Pink Caravan, the breast cancer awareness initiative of the UAE-based non-profit, Friends of Cancer Patients (FOCP), has called upon women who previously underwent mammogram screenings at clinics during their annual UAE-wide breast cancer awareness campaign in 2019,to get themselves tested again at the Pink Caravan Medical Mobile Clinic, located at the Supreme Council for Family Affairs (SCFA) in Sharjah.

The clinic has been conducting follow-up tests since January 2021, and 100 women out of 661 have been tested so far.

The follow-up tests are mandated under the National Guidelines for Breast Cancer Screening and Diagnosis, which stipulate that women aged 40-69 years should undergo mammogram screening every two years.

Pink Caravan Medical Mobile Clinicconducts free breast cancer screenings across the seven emirates of the UAE, while raising awareness on the importance of early detection and diagnosis of breast cancer, its prevention and risk factors.

Test conducted under strict safety protocols

The Pink Caravan Medical Mobile Clinic follows the mandatory health safety guidelines in place in the UAE to keep the patients safe by cleaning and sterilizing all diagnostic machines after each patient visit and maintaining a strict safe distancing policy.

Donate to a vital cause

Calling on organisations and individuals in the UAE to generously support the Pink Caravan Ride’s awareness, early detection and treatment programmes, Dr Sawsan Al Madhi, Director General of FOCP and Head of the PCR Medical and Awareness Committee, said: “Over the last 11 years the Pink Caravan Ride, which emphasises on early detection of breast cancer through integrated awareness initiatives and screening, has shown very encouraging results.”, noting that  early detection and improving risk factor awareness are imperative to saving lives.

Al Madhicalled on all women in the UAE to undergo mammogram screenings. “As the leading cancer-specific charity in the UAE, FOCP has been at the forefront of raising cancer awareness amongst the UAE community”, she added.

Beneficiary thanks Pink Caravan for their committed care

One of the many Pink Caravan beneficiaries, Mrs Thana, lauded the Pink Caravan’s thorough breast checkup protocols and timely follow-ups offered by the initiative’s staff. “Be it during my mammogram screenings or the PET CT scans, which takes a more targeted approach to detecting the presence and location of cancers, the staff at the Pink Caravan Mobile Medical Clinic were extremely professional and caring.”

A few outcrops were detected in Thana’s right breast. “I received a call from the PC staff to go in for a follow-up test. A scan which tested the breast accurately and from all sides was employed to ensure that I was cancer free,” she added emphasising that the joy and peace of mind that the exercise brought her, which she undertook for the first time in her life, was reason for her to continue these checkups on a regular basis.

Thana thanked Pink Caravan for their dedicated efforts to raise women’s awareness of breast cancer, and called on women in the UAE to go in for regular checkups even if they did not notice any symptoms.

Donations to FOCP can be made via credit card, PayPal, bank transfers and cheques. Amounts as low AED 5 and up to AED 500 can be donated by via SMS. Direct fund transfers can be made to Pink Caravan’s Sharjah Islamic Bank account. You can even arrange for a collection by calling +971 6 506 5542; sending an email to info@focp.ae; or via the website www.focp.ae. All donations go directly and in full to funding the awareness and screening drives.

To know more about FOCP’s leading campaigns, awareness programs and beneficiary initiatives, or to donate, please visit www.focp.ae.