Free cancer screenings at Zulekha hospital till October 5

 As part of a new awareness campaign, the Zulekha Hospital in Dubai is conducting free cancer screenings and consultations until October 5. The campaign aims to educate the public about the importance of regular check-ups for early detection of colon cancer.
The 'Watch Your Back' campaign, launched in association with the Ministry of Health (MoH) on Monday, stresses that colon cancer is preventable through maintaining a healthy lifestyle and undergoing early screenings that can help eliminate the disease.
The campaign was launched in line with the UAE government's aim to cut cancer fatalities by 18 per cent by 2021.
"Besides the genetic factor, diet plays an important factor behind colorectal cancer. Unfortunately, people in this part of the world tend to follow low-fiber diets that include processed food and red meat, which ultimately leads to cancer," said Dr Rashmi C. Patel, specialist general surgery at Zulekha Hospital, during the campaign launch.
Alcohol and tobacco consumption are other causes of colorectal cancer.
According to Health Authority Abu Dhabi (HAAD), colon cancer is the second most common and fatal cancer in the UAE, after breast cancer. The American Cancer Society previously revealed that the risk of developing colon cancer among men is about one in 20 and this risk is only slightly lower among women.
Dr Patel said during the early stages of cancer, treatment can take the form of nonsurgical therapy and other related medications that can be less painful for patients.
Men and women are at risk of cancer at the average age of 40 years. While people with family history of colon cancer tend to be at higher risk, Dr Tarek AlKhouri, specialist medical oncologist at Zulekha Hospital, said patients of polyps or other types of familial syndromes or colorectal syndromes should be screened every three to five years.
"Detecting polyps and removing them early is very important since they can easily turn to cancer," said AlKhouri.
He added that mortality rate reduced by 35 per cent worldwide as a result of early detection. "Cervical, breast and colon cancers can be detected early through screenings. Instead of spending thousands of dirhams on treatment, it is best to prevent the illness in the first place."
When asked about the few number of patients who opt for screening, AlKhouri said: "Education of screening and early detection is still going. There tends to be a general embarrassment around discussing certain illnesses and while we have come a long way with raising awareness on breast cancer, people are now starting to know that early screenings is a major factor for prevention."
How to register
Residents can register online at crc.zulekhahospitals.com for free specialist consultations and tests until October 5, or by calling 600524442
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