Pink Caravan announces free breast cancer screenings on January 30

As a confidence-building measure to ensure large numbers of women and men undergo preventive mammography screenings during the upcoming Pink Caravan Ride, the organisation will station a mobile mammography unit at Sharjah Federal Court of First Instance for one day to provide free screenings for all. The fully-operational mobile mammography unit will be stationed at the premises on January 30th with a doctor for checkups and further referrals. Dr. Sawsan Al Madhi, Secretary-General for the Friends of Cancer Patients Society and head of the Pink Caravan's Medical Awareness Committee said, "The most effective method to detect breast cancer is mammography, which can find potentially cancerous lumps up to 3 years before the cancer can actually be felt by a surgeon. In line with the view held by cancer experts, we would also be stressing that regular mammogram tests be conducted every 2 years, more particularly if you have passed the age of 40." "A major hindrance that people encounter when choosing to attend a mammography session is the distance and time required to reach a medical centre housing the facility. One of our goals is to help bring anti-cancer technology to people's doorsteps. Such preventive screenings help offset the possibility of expensive hospital treatment at a later stage, if the symptoms are left undiagnosed," she added. The Pink Caravan awareness initiative by the Friends of Cancer Patients (FoCP) Society has already announced that "Dispelling myths" would once again be the overriding theme driving its 2014 pan-U.A.E. horse ride. This year's Pink Caravan Ride will start from Sharjah on February 15th, journeying through the Northern Emirates, passing through Dubai, Al Ain and concluding in the capital, Abu Dhabi, on February 25th.