• EMBRACE highlights the significance of regular screening to ensure early detection
  • The campaign which will run throughout October on the occasion of Breast Cancer Awareness month

Dubai, United Arab Emirates: MSD, a leading global biopharmaceutical company, together with Emirates Oncology Society and Friends of Cancer Patients (FOCP), has announced the launch of EMBRACE, a campaign to mark Breast Cancer Awareness Month this October. The partners will work together throughout the month to roll out a series of offline and online activities designed to raise awareness of breast cancer, encourage regular check-ups and to ensure early diagnosis.

The campaign focuses on the importance of self-examinations, asking women to check their breasts for pain, changes in size or lumps or increased swelling under their armpits and not to delay clinical examinations and regular mammograms. Dubai landmarks, the Burj Khalifa and Dubai Frame, will be lit up in pink, the traditional color of Breast Cancer Awareness Month, on 19 October. Other activities include free screening for the public at the Friends of Cancer Patients’ Pink Caravan at Dubai Frame on 29 October.

Ashraf Malak, Managing Director, MSD, GCC said, “With the EMBRACE campaign, our goal is to raise awareness for early checkups so that we can empower people to happily embrace their tomorrow. Patients are at the center of all we do and are deeply embedded in our company’s DNA and our legacy of over 130 years. We are working to help prevent and treat cancer wherever possible in pursuit of our mission to save and improve lives. To that end we continue to invest in research and development across the oncology space to deliver breakthrough innovations such as immunotherapies.  Along with partners such as Emirates Oncology Society and Friends of Cancer Patients, we hope to encourage more women to get checked early for breast cancer, helping to improve survival of patients diagnosed with this disease.”

Dr Humaid Al Shamsi, President of Emirates Oncology Society commented, “The most common form of cancer among women in the UAE, 1,030 women[1] were diagnosed with breast cancer in the country last year. While the majority of women diagnosed with breast cancer will be over 50[2], a small percentage of women under 45 will also receive a positive[3] diagnosis. If detected early, there is a 99 percent[4] chance of a five-year survival rate. Considering that among younger patients, a particularly aggressive form of breast cancer known as Triple-negative breast cancer (TNBC) accounts for about 10-15 percent[5] of all cases, it is imperative to stress that women everywhere acknowledge the importance of regular checks and early diagnosis. It is important to know the signs, exercise and to maintain a healthy body weight.”

According to Globocan 2020, 222[6] individuals in the UAE die every year ranking as a number one cause of mortality with 11.7 percent of those diagnosed succumbing to the disease. Triple-negative breast cancer is an aggressive type of breast cancer that characteristically has a high recurrence rate within the first five years after diagnosis. While some people with breast cancer may test positive for estrogen receptor, progesterone receptor or overexpression of human epidermal growth factor receptor 2 (HER2), people with TNBC test negative[7] for all three. 

Dr. Sawsan Al Madhi, Director General, FOCP, added, “According to the American Cancer Society, when breast cancer is detected early, the 5-year relative survival rate is as high as 99 percent[8]. This powerful statistic is a driving force for FOCP’s Pink Caravan initiative, which has been travelling across the UAE since 2011, raising awareness on the issue, offering free screenings and expert medical assistance, promoting healthy lifestyles and empowering the nation’s citizens and residents to safeguard themselves against the risk of this disease. Yes, TNBC is very aggressive with the worst survival rates compared to other subtypes, but at the same time, the earlier that cancer is detected, the easier it can be beaten. This is why I urge the UAE to come forward and join us throughout October, as we reinforce our key messages of early detection and timely diagnosis through 21 mobile clinics offering free breast screenings, 12 expert medical consultations, and educational awareness lectures in English and Arabic, and our popular Pink Steps’ challenge.

The Pink Caravan has facilitated more than 75,000[9] clinical examinations between 2011and 2020 across the seven emirates, including 13,000 cases detected amongst men.

[1] https://gco.iarc.fr/today/data/factsheets/populations/784-united-arab-emirates-fact-sheets.pdf 

[2] https://www.cdc.gov/cancer/breast/young_women/index.htm 

[3] https://www.cdc.gov/cancer/breast/young_women/bringyourbrave/breast_cancer_young_women/index.htm 

[4] https://www.cancer.org/cancer/breast-cancer/understanding-a-breast-cancer-diagnosis/breast-cancer-survival-rates.html 

[5] https://www.cancer.org/cancer/breast-cancer/about/types-of-breast-cancer/triple-negative.html 

[6] https://gco.iarc.fr/today/data/factsheets/populations/784-united-arab-emirates-fact-sheets.pdf 

[7] Triple-negative breast cancer molecular subtyping and treatment progress https://breast-cancer-research.biomedcentral.com/articles/10.1186/s13058-020-01296-5 

[8] https://www.nationalbreastcancer.org/early-detection-of-breast-cancer/#:~:text=According%20to%20the%20American%20Cancer,clinical%20breast%20exams%20and%20mammograms. 

[9] https://www.pinkcaravan.ae/statistics-since-2011/ 

Send us your press releases to pressrelease.zawya@refinitiv.com

© Press Release 2021

Disclaimer: The contents of this press release was provided from an external third party provider. This website is not responsible for, and does not control, such external content. This content is provided on an “as is” and “as available” basis and has not been edited in any way. Neither this website nor our affiliates guarantee the accuracy of or endorse the views or opinions expressed in this press release.

The press release is provided for informational purposes only. The content does not provide tax, legal or investment advice or opinion regarding the suitability, value or profitability of any particular security, portfolio or investment strategy. Neither this website nor our affiliates shall be liable for any errors or inaccuracies in the content, or for any actions taken by you in reliance thereon. You expressly agree that your use of the information within this article is at your sole risk.

To the fullest extent permitted by applicable law, this website, its parent company, its subsidiaries, its affiliates and the respective shareholders, directors, officers, employees, agents, advertisers, content providers and licensors will not be liable (jointly or severally) to you for any direct, indirect, consequential, special, incidental, punitive or exemplary damages, including without limitation, lost profits, lost savings and lost revenues, whether in negligence, tort, contract or any other theory of liability, even if the parties have been advised of the possibility or could have foreseen any such damages.