The Primary Health Care Corporation (PHCC) is hosting a number of activities this month, the Breast Cancer Awareness Month, across key locations in Qatar to raise awareness on the need for early screening.

According to the Ministry of Public Health, among the top malignant types of cancer in Qatar and as per 2014 figures, breast cancer accounted for 17.42% while colon cancer made up 10.55%. As for the age group of female breast cancer incidence, the age category of 45-49 years showed the highest incidence at 16.2%.

PHCC leads the national the Breast and Bowel Screening Programme, ‘Screen for Life’ and will launch its planned activities with a series of awareness presentations that will span the full month of October. Starting off the calendar of events, will be a lecture at Al Khor Housing Community, followed by an awareness session and a survivor testimonial at Qatar National Library awareness campaign to be held at Qatar Foundation Students Centre.

The team will then head to the College of the North Atlantic in Qatar for a lecture. All the events taking place during the month will be joined by PHCC’s Mobile Screening Unit, which will be available for women as the majority of the events will offer on site screening.

Throughout the month, PHCC will be hosting awareness booths at four of Qatar’s leading shopping malls. During the first two weeks of October, a team of PHCC’s specialised liaison staff will be present at both Ezdan Mall and Gulf Mall. For the remaining two weeks, they will be located at Landmark and Villaggio.

Specialised liaison staff will be on-hand to offer guidance and advice on breast cancer screening, available cancer screening centres, and also showcase PHCC’s Mobile Screening Unit.

Concluding the month, PHCC will be participating at the Qatar Cancer Society Annual Conference. During the two day event, PHCC will be providing awareness, latest updates and further information.The Breast and Bowel Screening Programme falls under Qatar’s National Cancer Programme.