Following the World Cancer Day, Zulekha Hospital has kick-started its yearly awareness drive “Screen and Survive” on Colon Cancer in its fifth year this February and will continue to raise awareness through the campaign for two months with March coming up as the world colon cancer awareness month. Furthering the government objective to cut cancer fatalities by 18 percent by 2021, and with support from the health authorities in the region, Zulekha Hospital has developed the ‘Screen and Survive’ campaign to stress the importance of regular checks for early detection and to educate the wider public about the screening process that can eliminate the disease.
Over the years hundreds of individuals have come forward to take the free screenings and each year the hospital has diagnosed at least five to seven positive cases and these individuals have either taken immediate treatment in UAE or have returned back to their home-country for treatments.
Zulekha Hospital’s Campaign Ambassador Dr Adil Daud, Professor, Oncology Director from the University of California, San Francisco, USA stressed on the fact that sedentary lifestyles have led younger generations to develop colon cancer even at the age of 25. “Every year it is our utmost desire to educate people and encourage early screening. We encourage you to break any taboos of embarrassment of talking about the disease and get yourself screened.” said Dr. Daud.
Deliberating on the key symptoms, causes, treatment advances and post-treatment palliative care, a panel discussion was hosted by experts from the hospital including Dr Daud, Director of Nutrition & Lifestyle Management Ms. Nafeesa Ahmed, Radiologist Dr. Sonali Mathur, Specialist Gastroenterology Dr. Hib Alla Farouk Maskji, Specialist Gynecologist Dr. Laxmi Yaliwal, Specialist Surgical Oncologist Dr. Sivaprakash Rathanaswamy and Clinical Psychologist Ms. Anu Mathew.
*Heath authorities in UAE recommend colonoscopy, every 10 years or a simple stool test, every two years for both men and women between the age group of 40-75. A family history of colon cancer and a diet low in fruits, vegetables, fiber and high on red meat and processed food are known to be leading causes of colon cancer. Lack of physical activity, smoking and alcohol consumption can also increase the risk of cancer. A recent study on colon cancer conducted on residents between the ages of 29 to 81 years found that 22 per cent of the cancer cases were patients below the age of 40, while people younger than 50 years made up 41 per cent.
Colorectal cancer is the cancer of the colon or the rectum. Research says most colorectal cancers first develop as polyps, which are abnormal growths inside the colon or rectum. They can become cancerous if they aren’t removed. Most time the disease is asymptomatic and can quickly spread to other organs if not caught early.
Commenting on the initiative Co-Chairperson Zanubia Shams said, “We do not want lack of knowledge to be a reason for a family to lose its near and dear ones to this disease. Hence we consistently make this effort to educate our society and offer free screening opportunities each year to make it easily accessible as well.”
The hospital urges the UAE residents to visit the campaign website http://crc.zulekhahospitals.com/ and learn more on the disease as well as get a free examination and consultation from their specialists from 17th February to 17th March 2020.
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