ABU DHABI // A recent nationwide survey revealed that seven out of 10 women living in the UAE were unable to correctly identify symptoms of ovarian cancer.
The study shows that about 1,350 women are diagnosed with ovarian cancer each year, with 750 dying from the disease. Globally, more than 250,000 women suffer from the disease.
To aid early diagnosis and treatment, a campaign called Listen to Your Body was launched in Dubai and Abu Dhabi recently by AstraZeneca Gulf.
The initiative’s launch involved a performance by the Voices of Harmony in Al Wahda Mall in the capital and City Walk Jumeirah, where ovarian cancer symptom-tracking diaries were distributed to women in the crowd.
Dr Aladdin Maarraoui, consultant oncologist at Mafraq Hospital, said: “Ovarian cancer can occur at any age, with women 45 years and older at higher risk. Unfortunately, the symptoms women experience with early ovarian cancer often mimic non-serious causes, such as the menstrual cycle or indigestion,” he said.
“This means they can delay seeking medical advice and it’s not until symptoms progress to the late stages that they will go to see their doctor.”
Because of consistent late worldwide diagnoses, ovarian cancer survival rates were much lower than other cancers that affect women, with a five-year survival rate of between 30 and 50 per cent.
“We know ovarian cancer causes more deaths than any other cancer of the female reproductive organs,” Dr Maarraoui said.
Dr Faraz Khan, consultant oncologist at American Hospital Dubai, said because there was no specific diagnostic tool for ovarian cancer, symptom awareness remained of key importance. The most common symptoms are pelvic or abdominal pain, bloating, frequent urination and feeling full after eating a small amount.
The survey shows 46 per cent of respondents did not know why it was important for women to find out whether they had inherited the BRCA gene mutations. Women with the gene mutations were more likely to develop ovarian or breast cancer.
“It’s recommended for women who have a strong family history of cancer to be tested for BRCA mutations, to help inform medical professionals and patients on monitoring and prevention strategies,” Dr Khan said.
arizvi2@thenational.ae
