The “Screen for Life” program is a lifesaving, population-based initiative focused on awareness and and early detection of breast and bowel cancer in Qatar.

The Primary Health Care Corporation (PHCC) is set to launch its annual nationwide campaign to raise awareness about bowel cancer, one of the most common cancers affecting both men and women in Qatar.

This year, the campaign will combine traditional and digital marketing strategies, in collaboration with key partners like Qatar Museums. It will feature educational social media posts, awareness booths at health centres, and public lectures during and after Ramadan.

Early detection plays a crucial role in the fight against bowel cancer, significantly improving the chances of successful treatment. In fact, when diagnosed early, the survival rate can reach as high as 90 percent.

Dr. Shaikha Abu Shaikha, Director of Screening Programs, urged the public to familiarise themselves with the key symptoms of bowel cancer. These include blood in the stool or rectal bleeding, changes in bowel habits such as diarrhea or constipation lasting more than two weeks, a feeling of incomplete bowel emptying, abdominal pain, unexplained weight loss, anemia, weakness, or fatigue.

The campaign is focused on encouraging participation in the Fecal Immunochemical Test (FIT), a free screening test available to all men and women in Qatar aged 50 to 74.

The test is specifically for individuals who show no symptoms of bowel cancer and have not undergone a bowel cancer screening in the last two years or a colonoscopy in the past 10 years.

The Breast and Bowel cancer screening suites are available in several health centres across Qatar: Al Wakrah, Rawdat Al Khail, Muaither, Laibeib and Al Sadd.