Celebrating International Woman’s Day in Gaza by Promoting Cancer Early Detection among Women
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On the 8th of March 2009, HCI worked cooperatively with its Gaza-based partner, the Aid & Hope Center for the Care of Cancer Patients, to celebrate the International Woman’s Day by promoting cancer early detection, particularly mammograms test which is among the best early detection methods for breast cancer among women. Breast cancer if detected early, the five-year survival rate exceeds 96%.
In Gaza, the awareness of breast cancer and opportunity for help is limited for women. Latest estimates show that less than 40% of breast cancer cases are detected early in Gaza - one of the lowest rates in the world. By promoting mammography test, Gaza women will have an opportunity to detect breast cancer when it is small, and when treatment options are available and a cure is more likely.
Mammography is a specific type of imaging that uses a low-dose x-ray system to examine breasts. Mammography play a central part in early detection of breast cancers because it can show changes in the breast up to two years before a patient or physician can feel them. Current guidelines from the international health bodies recommend screening mammography every one or two years for women, beginning at age 40, since the older a woman is, the greater her chance of developing breast cancer. Research has shown that annual mammograms lead to early detection of breast cancers, when they are most curable and breast-conservation therapies are available. When cancers are small, the woman has more treatment options and a cure is more likely.
The awareness campaign took place during the three-day fair organized by the Women Affairs Center, Gaza Chapter, under the slogan of “Despite the death and destruction, long-live the eighth of March: Exhibition of goods made by Gaza women.”
Thirty five women NGOs participated in this year’s exhibition, where 12 thousands women are expected to attend. NGOs are exhibiting their goods and products made by Gaza women.
Assisted by women volunteers from the Aid & Hope Center for the Care of Cancer Patients (AHCCCP), 900 women from Gaza filled in a questionnaire about breast cancer and they were given pink ribbons symbolizing the fight against breast cancer, donated by HCI. The team intends to complete 10,000 questionnaires by the end of the exhibition. The survey investigates, among other things, the current state of early detection of breast cancer, the mammography tests, and the perception of Gaza women in regard to the test.
Findings from this survey will help shaping HCI/AHCCCP’s future interventions concerning breast cancer early detection and the viability to implement a mobile clinic in Gaza specialized in mammography tests in the poorest and marginalized areas in Gaza.
Tags: Gaza Strip, Health, Palestine, Woman