Pink Ribbon Week: First Campus Health Fair Raises Awareness of Breast Cancer
According to the World Cancer Research Fund International, breast cancer is the most common cancer among women worldwide and the second most common cancer in general. The good news is: It is a highly treatable disease.
This is why AUC's Office of Medical Services is collaborating with the Student Union and the Office of Athletics to promote and host the University's first health fair: Breast Cancer Awareness. The event will take place from October 14 to 18 in Bartlett Plaza at AUC New Cairo and will include free and discounted services and checkups by prominent medical laboratories and companies and a weekly gynecologist visit to campus throughout the month. Booths will be open from 11 am - 2 pm with a daily lecture from 1 - 2 pm.
Dr. Mohamed Amin, head of AUC's Office of Medical Services, explained that the office is hoping to make the Breast Cancer Awareness event the first of many themed health fairs. "The idea of engaging awareness for breast cancer coincides with the Breast Cancer Awareness Month [October], or Pink Month," he said. "AUC is focusing on internationalization, and we want the initiative to coordinate with other international events."
The Office of Medical Services is collaborating with the Baheya Foundation for the Treatment of Breast Cancer, a charity hospital in Egypt that specializes in early detection and treatment for women diagnosed with breast cancer. Baheya will be kicking off the event with a two-hour promotional lecture, discussing how to examine yourself, ways to protect against breast cancer and signs that you should visit a gynecologist.
The fair will give attendees information about breast cancer, making them conscious of risk factors and aware of resources such as Baheya. "Breast cancer is now considered curable," Amin explained. "If you discover it early, you can cure it early, so engaging awareness will benefit the whole community, including students, parents, staff and faculty."
With different activities every day, the fair will include multiple fun events including zumba and hip-hop dancing. There will also be an ice cream stand and a a pink decoration craft. Other vendors will be supporting the event as well, including multiple labs and medical companies that will offer free and discounted services during the week. There will also be a gynecologist visiting the clinic once a week during the month of October to answer questions and offer medical advice.
"Sometimes when students hear about cancer they are afraid to talk about it, but if we make it a fun event, people will be willing to learn and will realize there is a high cure rate," Amin said. "They will learn how to protect themselves."
