The Pink Caravan, a pan-UAE breast cancer initiative by the Friends of Cancer Patients (FoCP), held a training workshop in collaboration with the University Hospital, Sharjah on Clinical Breast Examination (CBE) for medical practitioners taking part in the ride. The course was held at the Sharjah Surgical Institute and Clinical Training Centre recently at the University of Sharjah and was attended by doctors, nurses and administrators who are to take part in medical routes of the 2016 ride due to kick off on March 7th. The Pink Caravan medical practitionerslearnt the basics of breast diseases, particularly breast cancer and the importance of CBE and how it’s related to breast cancer. They also learnt how to perform CBE and teach patients how to examine themselves. Participants were also taught breast imaging techniques and what to order for screening.The course was led by DrToufikTabbara, Associate Professor of Surgery, UHS; Dr A M Obaideen, Senior Consultant Radiologist, University of Sharjah, and ProfessorDr Nabil Sulaiman, Head of the department of Family and CommunityMedicine; Director of CTC/SSI and Chairman of the Curriculum Committee CME Accreditation, whodelivered the content through theoretical lectures, video presentations and practical sessions.DrSawsan Al Madhi, Director General of Friends of Cancer Patients (FOCP) and Head of the Pink Caravan Medical and Awareness Committee said, “This course organized by UHS and Pink Caravan has been designed to teach and train healthcare practitioners a simplified and standardized approach for Clinical Breast Examination (CBE). The CBE is a powerful tool that could be used by clinicians for early detection of any dominant breast mass.”
DrSawsan added, “Before the 2016 Pink Caravan Ride begins, we are ensuring that all of our medical teams in the mobile clinics are aware of how to perform breast cancer examination on patients. This course is very important and is the very foundation of the Pink Caravan Ride’s mission of spreading breast cancer awareness and the importance of early detection of breast cancer.” The Medical teams were also given feedback on assessment and upon completing the course they received a CME certificate by the Medical College of the University of Sharjah affirming their participation in the course.Professor Dr. Nabil Sulaiman said, “The CTC/SSI at UHS is honoured to train the medical teams of the Pink Caravan. Their training comes in three parts and includes communications, which shows the medical teams how best to talk to patients. The second part includes training on how to carry out a breast examination and the third part is on breast imaging techniques. The workshops also included one-on-one examinations with dummy models and video demonstrations. The Pink Caravan medical teams were very attentive during the training and participated positively during the workshops and lectures.”The Pink Caravan Ride will take place this year from 7-17 March and see over 100 riders, accompanied by medical personnel and staff, travel across all seven emirates offering free breast cancer screenings to all men and women. It will also spread awareness about the importance of early detection of breast cancer and help to dispel myths surrounding the disease.
The Pink Caravan Ride is a pan-UAE breast cancer awareness initiative, launched in 2011 by Friends of Cancer Patients society(FoCP) on its 10th anniversary to further the work of FoCP. It was set up under the "KASHF" program, which aims to promote awareness of the importance of early detectable cancers. The initiative was launched under the patronage of His Highness Sheikh Dr. Sultan bin Mohammed Al Qasimi, Member of the Supreme Council and Ruler of Sharjah and under the directive of Her Highness SheikhaJawaherBint Mohammed Al Qasimi, Wife of the Ruler of Sharjah, Founder and Patron of Friends of Cancer Patients Society, International Ambassador of the World Cancer Declaration for Union for International Cancer Control (UICC) and International Ambassador for Childhood Cancer for UICC. The Pink Caravan seeks to dispel misconceptions surrounding breast cancer and early detection, while offering free breast cancer examinations to all across the country, both Emiratis and expatriates. It also aims to unify efforts to fight breast cancer and promote the culture of voluntarism and charitable work.