According to studies, the average age of diagnosis is ten years younger in the UAE than anywhere else in the world, rendering early testing and treatment crucial. 

For this year’s Pink October, Dubai based business setup advisory firm, Creative Zone, Al Jalila Foundation and the Dubai Business Women Council teamed up to raise the importance of early detection in breast cancer. An educational video released by the entities, showcased ten influential women talk about breast cancer and how early detection can drastically increase the chances of cure.

In the UAE, breast cancer is the most common type of cancer, constituting 38% of all female cancers, which has steadily increased over the last three decades. The high prevalence of the disease reinforces the critical need to generate awareness on a larger scale along with educating women on the methods to examine themselves regularly, as a woman’s chances of survival increase by 95% if the cancer is detected early.

“2020 has been a powerful reminder that we are all in this together, and our choices and actions have the power to protect the more vulnerable ones in a big way. The same holds true when it comes to breast cancer. It is inspiring to see so many people, organisations, and NGOs have dedicated themselves to work towards ending breast cancer. Our aim behind making this video was to encourage people, to talk freely about breast cancer and understand how early detection can save their loved ones. Working with Al Jalila Foundation and these extraordinary women was an absolute honour and a privilege” said Lorenzo Jooris, CEO, Creative Zone and Nadine Halabi, Business Development Manager, DBWC.

Recognising the considerable reach and impact these women hold, Creative Zone roped them in for the video; that features imminent personalities such as Dr Houriya Kazim, UAE’s first female breast surgeon, Dr Ibtesam Al Bastaki, Director of investment,public and private partnerships, DHA, Nadine Halabi, Business Development Manager, Dubai Business Women Council, Debbie Stanford CEO – Novo Cinemas, RoseminMadhavji Founder – Co R&R, Sirine Fadoul, Advisory at Yalla Give, Natalia Hassanie Founder – PoseTivity, Jenny Waite, Author, In The Pink, RandaMushtaha, Content Director, Almentor, and Nadine Chammas, The Life Director.

The video was made with valued support from Al Jalila Foundation, a member of the Mohammed Bin Rashid Al Maktoum Global Initiatives, dedicated to transforming lives through medical innovation. The foundation, together with ‘Brest Friends’, a breast cancer support group founded by Dr Houriya Kazim, has been doing tremendous work, by increasing awareness of breast cancer and providing a platform where patients and survivors can learn, share experiences and offer moral and emotional support to each other which has proven to be instrumental in a woman’s healing process.

“We have all been affected by breast cancer in some way, and Breast Cancer Awareness Month is an opportunity to bring the community together to fight breast cancer, honour patients and survivors, and remember the people we have lost. It is also a month that symbolises hope that the disease can be beaten and we will not retreat until a cure is found. I remind everyone that breast cancer awareness should not be limited to the month of October and call on the community to keep the message alive all-year-round. I cannot emphasise enough the importance of early detection, do not wait until October to take action”, said Dr Houriya.

The video can be viewed here https://youtu.be/sYJ-u7-pm4I.