DHA rolls out prostate cancer awareness campaign.

Authority urges men to take part in free educational programs.

United Arab Emirates, Dubai, September 22, 2013: The Dubai Health Authority (DHA) in collaboration with HH Sheikh Hamdan Bin Rashid Al Maktoum Award for Medical Sciences and Emirates Urological Society rolled out an educational campaign today to mark Prostate Disease Awareness Week.

The campaign  was launched at Dubai Hospital  and will take place until the 26th of this month. The  aim is to educate men about prostate diseases including prostate cancer and the importance of early diagnosis.

The awareness initiative is in line with the Global Prostate Cancer Awareness month which is marked in September every year.

Dr Hussein Al Rehman, Medical Director of Dubai Hospital launched the campaign and urology specialists addressed the importance of this event.

In addition to Dubai Hospital, DHA urologists will also hold educational programs about the disease at Hatta Hospital on the 23rd of September and in the Dubai Police headquarters on the 25th of September. As part of the campaign the DHA will distribute information booklets and lectures to educate people about the disease

Dr Fariborz Bagheri, Urologist at Dubai Hospital said: “Presently, in the Middle-East region, we find that prostate diseases are neglected and this causes serious problems among men. There is a lack of awareness about prostate cancer and other prostate diseases in the region. This, despite the fact that worldwide, after lung cancer, prostate cancer is the second most common cause of cancer related deaths in men.”

Dr. Bagheri said the aim of this program is to educate people about prostate diseases and to encourage early screening. “In many ways prostate cancer is a silent disease-it goes unnoticed for years because there are no apparent signs and symptoms of the disease. Therefore, it is recommended that men above 50 years undergo screening tests and men who have a family history of cancer should begin the screening from 40 years of age.”

He added: “Emphasis on early screening is vital because if detected in time, prostate cancer can be completely cured, however, if detected later on, it can only be treated and not cured.”

Dr Bagheri said that such patients have to endure lifelong treatment.

He said besides prostate cancer, the other common prostate disease include prostate inflammation which mostly affects adolescents and younger men. “If this disease is undiagnosed or diagnosed late, it may result in erectile dysfunction or cause fertility problems in men.”

He urged men, especially those with a family history of cancer, to undertake screening regularly and encouraged them to take part in such awareness campaigns so that they can address their queries about the disease.

For further enquiries, please contact Dubai Hospital at 04-2195000 or call our toll-free number 800 342.