Pink Caravan Ride awareness campaign helps 11 women with treatment for breast cancer

The Pink Caravan Ride, a nationwide awareness campaign, has helped 11 women to receive breast cancer treatment.

The women – aged between 30 and 62, and from Sharjah, Ajman, Dubai and Ras Al Khaimah – had breast cancer diagnosed after the awareness campaign organised by Friends of Cancer Patients set up 8,000 screenings and clinical examinations across the UAE.

The eighth Pink Caravan Ride included 47 mammography tests carried out at mobile medical clinics, and 254 mammographies and 97 ultrasound examinations by partnering healthcare providers.

The women’s ages highlighted the need for regular checkups and increased awareness. Two of those who received diagnoses are in their early 60s, four in their mid-50s, four in their 40s and one woman was 30.

This year’s Pink Caravan Ride was the most comprehensive to date, offering its services to 687 more people than last year, and for the first time, the Medical Awareness Committee kept some of the fixed clinics operational for nine days after the campaign ended, adding 2,635 extra check-ups to the final tally.

“To be able to help these 11 women is a hugely gratifying part of the Pink Caravan campaign and has potentially been a lifesaving exercise for them,” said Reem bin Karam, head of the Pink Caravan’s steering committee.

“Equally, the increasing willingness of so many people to undertake screenings has been overwhelming and that reflects our key message of awareness.”