Voices

Aug 14, 2025, 07:21

Sahar Mansour: The Power of Early Detection Goes Beyond the Mammogram

Sahar Mansour, Professor of Radiology at Kasr Al-Ainy Hospital, Cairo University and Consultant of breast imaging and intervention at Baheya Charity Women’s Cancer Hospital, shared a post on LinkedIn:

“Early Detection: Beyond the Mammogram

Breast cancer screening isn’t just about what we see, it’s about the woman who shows up.
She may have no symptoms. No family history. Her mammogram assigned normal/benign. But she comes. She returns. And that changes everything.

When the signs were subtle, barely visible. We offered reassurance, but also a reminder: Annual screening matters. Her presence matters. She is part of the process.

The power of early detection goes beyond the mammogram. It’s not just in the hours spent at the workstation. Not just in diagnosing cancer early, even with the help of AI. The real power lies in the woman who shows up.

Two or three minutes I take to meet her face-to-face and speak. Not just to report, but to remind her why annual screening matters. She comes back this year, with early-stage cancer. And I don’t just discuss treatment… I celebrate her courage. This isn’t chance. This is bravery. This is shared purpose because she showed up before the story unfolded.

To my fellow radiologists, What do you say, do, or offer that truly reaches a woman’s heart and helps her choose to show up for screening? How do you turn a routine appointment into a moment of connection? What’s your secret to helping her see that early detection isn’t just clinical, it’s life-changing?”

Sahar Mansour