May Al Mahayni
Content created by Virtual Intern Nora Moest
The Syrian civil war has resulted in suboptimal oncology care in most of Syria, but Dr. May Al Mahayni, a Syrian doctor and co-founder of the Breast Cancer Protection Society is passionate about her mission to raise awareness of breast cancer and encourage early detection.
She participated in the International Visitor Leadership Program (IVLP) in October 2007 and during her program she learned about current cancer research from other participants and doctors and staff at cancer centers throughout the United States. She brought what she learned back to Syria and applied it to workshops and events organized by the Breast Cancer Protection Society. She organized a walk through the streets of Damascus imitating the walk she saw in San Diego where everyone was wearing a pink shirt with the Breast Cancer logo to bring attention to the disease and call for early detection.
Through the society, Dr. Al Mahayni and other doctors collected donations and took a mammogram machine to rural areas in Syria to test women for breast cancer. Thanks to her knowledge and networking, Dr. May Al Mahayni is spreading the word in Syria about early detection of breast cancer.
Content edited by Sallie Bestul, Regina Navarro-Gomez, and Jenna Williams
