VPS Healthcare to raise awareness for breast cancer

ABU DHABI- To commemorate Breast Cancer Awareness Month, VPS Healthcare, an integrated healthcare provider with chain of hospitals and network of clinics, will invite women in UAE to participate in a Guinness World Records attempt for the Largest Simultaneous Self-Examination for Breast cancer on 15 Oct. at the Zayed University Convention Centre in Abu Dhabi.

To promote awareness of the merits of early detection, VPS will pursue a creative course of action – inviting hundreds of women to learn how to perform self-examination for breast cancer before asking them to participate in a group self-exam that they hope will set a Guinness World Records title.

“Breast cancer is one of the most prevalent cancers in the Emirate of Abu Dhabi,” said Dr. Shamsheer Vayalil, Managing Director, VPS Healthcare. “Many breast cancer cases in UAE are reported at advanced stage compared to cases in the US and Europe where it is often detected at an early and treatable stage.”

 “Though this event, we want to draw attention to the merits of self-examination. Guinness World Records official adjudicator from their headquarters in UK will be present to give an instant verification of whether the record for the Largest Simultaneous Self-Examination for breast cancer has been set.

“We believe this is a wonderful effort to draw attention to an important issue, and we’re happy we can be a part of it,” said Turath Alsaraf, Director of the Records Management Team from Guinness World Records. “If the record is set, it will shine a spotlight on the importance of early detection and hopefully save lives.”

According to Ms. Elsa Oommen, Nursing Director at VPS Healthcare, breast cancer is among the most curable and treatable cancers when detected early.

“Regular screenings are integral part of the overall disease management process and self-examinations dramatically increase the chances of detecting breast cancer at an early and curable stage,” said Ms Oommen.

Since its inception, VPS Healthcare has undertaken several initiatives to raise awareness of breast cancer throughout the region.

“One of our campaigns has been a mobile mammography van operation that has offered free mammogram services to women in the UAE for the past three years,” said Vinay Batra CEO of Diagnostic Services at VPS Healthcare. “This event at Zayed University’s Convention Centre will build on our ongoing commitment to promoting awareness, early detection and treatment of breast cancer.”