There is more: Novartis strengthens support for women living with breast cancer

The company partnered with the Friends of Cancer Patients and the Emirates Oncology Society to educate women about the importance of regular screenings in the early detection and treatment of breast cancer.

26 October 2022; Dubai, United Arab Emirates

Novartis, one of the world’s leading pharmaceutical companies, is sending out a strong message of hope for women across the region diagnosed with breast cancer.

As part of its ‘Women in Pink’ initiative, Novartis partnered with the Friends of Cancer Patients (FOCP) and the Emirates Oncology Society (EOS) to organize an event celebrating breast cancer survivors and strengthening their support for women that are currently undergoing treatment for the disease.

The event brought together several medical experts and healthcare officials, including Jihen Toumi, Head of Medical Affairs, Innovative Medicines, Novartis Gulf; Prof. Humaid Al-Shamsi, President of the Emirates Oncology Society; and Ms Aisha Abdulla Al Mulla, Director of Friends of Cancer Patients. TV personality Fadia Al-Taweel and Paula Nasrallah, an active volunteer with Friends of Cancer Patients, also took to the stage to recount their experiences with breast cancer and their journey towards healing.

Influencers and media personnel immersed themselves in the event’s theme of spreading awareness and amplifying the message of hope to patients and communities using Women in Pink filters and hashtags across all social channels. As part of the initiative, bamboo plants were distributed to various women influencers and professionals across the UAE to deliver the message of hope and honour the resilience and strength within them.

Novartis’ ‘Women in Pink’ initiative is the latest in a series of efforts launched by the company to empower women across the region with the knowledge they need to seek proper treatment. The initiative aims to raise awareness about the importance of regular screenings in the early detection and treatment of breast cancer. It also assures women that a breast cancer diagnosis is not the end of the road for them. The initiative has brought together a series of breast cancer survivors to share messages of hope and support through their own experiences living with breast cancer.  

Mohamed Ezz Eldin, Head of Gulf Countries, Innovative Medicines, Novartis, said the importance of forming strong partnerships across the healthcare sector to ensure that women everywhere receive the care and treatment they need to get through such a difficult time in their lives. “Our mission has always been to improve the health of communities around the world, and for this, we have to work together with healthcare providers, patients, and doctors to find out what more can be done to support women that are at risk and those that have been diagnosed with breast cancer. Listening to the patient’s stories and how they support each other has been inspiring. It has strengthened our resolve to continue our mission of reimagining medicine to improve and extend people’s lives.”

Prof. Humaid Al-Shamsi, President of the Emirates Oncology Society, advised women not to seek a professional medical opinion if they feel at risk of breast cancer or if they think that they are exhibiting any of the symptoms that might indicate the disease. “We have always stressed the importance of catching the disease in the early stages because that means that the treatment will be easier and the chances of a full recovery at their highest.”

Aisha Abdulla Al Mulla, Director of Friends of Cancer Patients, also urged women at the event to become comfortable with conducting regular self-check breast exams at home. Any abnormality or change should be treated as grounds for an immediate consultation with a doctor. “One of the biggest misconceptions we continue to tackle is women thinking that they are not at risk of breast cancer simply because they have no family history of it. There are several factors that increase the chances of a woman developing breast cancer, and we must be there to educate women about all of them. Our collaboration with Novartis on the Women in Pink initiative is important.”

According to the World Health Organisation, breast cancer is the most diagnosed form of cancer, accounting for 2.3 million new cases annually. Towards the end of 2020, it was recorded that there were 7.8 million women alive that had been diagnosed with breast cancer in the past five years. Medical experts have said breast cancer is a progressive disease, with small tumours that are likely to develop early. Studies have shown that early detection is likely to result in successful treatment and a good prognosis. The screening methods for early disease detection are mammography, clinical breast examination, and breast self-examination.