The Primary Health Care Corporation (PHCC) will open a new centre for breast and bowel cancer screening under the “Screen for Life” programme at Rawdat Al Khail health centre next month, making it the fourth such facility in the country.
“The screening facility will be available for all residents from next year,” PHCC’s cancer programme manager, Dr Shaikha Abushaika, announced yesterday at the Qatar International Breast Cancer Conference, organised by Qatar Cancer Society (QCS).
Breast and bowel cancer screening is currently available at Al Wakra health centre, Leabaib health centre as well as the mobile screening centre, she explained.
More than 2,500 healthcare professionals from public and private facilities in Qatar are participating in the two-day conference being held under the patronage of HE the Prime Minister and Interior Minister Sheikh Abdullah bin Nasser bin Khalifa al-Thani and opened in the presence of HE the Minister of Public Health Dr Hanan Mohamed al-Kuwari at Sheraton Doha.
Speaking at the event, QCS chairman Dr Sheikh Khalid bin Jabor al-Thani said there is an urgent need for periodic partnerships, either short or long term, in the fight against cancer.
“The QCS is doing its best in order to achieve the goals of cancer awareness, prevention as well as  financial support for patients who are unable to afford treatment expenses.”
Referring to the  Screen for Life programme, Dr Abushaika recalled it was started in January this year at Al Wakra Health Centre. About 20,000 people in the age category of 45-69 have been identified for screening.
“We have invited about 15,000 for screening. So far, we have screened about 4,000 women for breast cancer. Out of this, 429 cases have been referred to Hamad Medical Corporation for further examinations and treatment. Women in the specified age category have to undergo the screening every three years.”
The official pointed out that there is a dedicated call centre for the programme, making it convenient for people to get appointment as well as to reschedule it.
“There are three ways to get an appointment for screening. Generally, there are people without any symptoms who are invited for screening. If anyone feels like getting screened, they can make a self-request. If there is a direct referral by physicians, they also get screened at these centres,” she continued.
International experts from across the world discussed during yesterday’s sessions a number of  aspects of the disease including awareness, prevention and the latest treatment available. Austria, where the disease is treated using several novel methods, was discussed in detail.
The conference has many workshops about most of the areas of the disease including psychological support for patients and the ways to conquer the disease.