A one-day Breast Cancer Awareness Symposium has opened at Hotel Jen with more than 120 participants, with First Lady Sajidha Mohamed officiating the opening ceremony.
The seventh annual symposium is being held under the theme, “From Detection to Recovery: Optimising Breast Cancer Care.”
Speaking at the opening ceremony, IGMH Senior Consultant Radiologist Dr Basma Ibrahim Sabir described the symposium as an important platform, highlighting the participation of speakers from both the Maldives and abroad as a key feature of this year’s event.
A total of 16 speakers from the Maldives and overseas are taking part in the symposium. Dr Basma said the sessions will cover information relating to all stages of breast cancer, from detection and diagnosis to treatment and recovery.
In her remarks, First Lady Sajidha emphasised that providing accurate and up-to-date information about breast cancer is one of the most important ways to raise awareness of the disease. She stressed that seeking medical attention as soon as possible after noticing any symptoms is crucial.
The First Lady also highlighted the importance of strengthening the health workforce and developing healthcare resources to improve the country’s ability to prevent and treat breast cancer.
The one-day symposium aims to raise awareness among women about breast cancer and discuss measures that can be taken to protect against the disease.
Symptoms of breast cancer can include a lump in the breast, changes in the skin and changes in the colour of the nipple or surrounding skin. Doctors advise seeking medical attention as soon as possible if such symptoms are noticed or if there is any unusual pain that was not previously present.
According to research by the World Health Organization, cancer is the second-leading cause of death globally. However, the disease can be less dangerous when detected and treated at an early stage.