ABU DHABI // Many women are reluctant to have a breast exam because they fear a cancer diagnosis always leads to a mastectomy, doctors say.
The surgery is often stigmatised as a form of “mutilation” in the UAE.
This misconception is deterring women from seeing a doctor but delaying treatment costs lives, warned Dr Nabil Debouni, the medical director at Burjeel Hospital in Abu Dhabi.
“Women here, they are worried in case they are told something is wrong. They believe it is like being broken,” said Dr Debouni, speaking as Breast Cancer Awareness Month is marked worldwide.
“The culture of this country means women are afraid of having the diagnosis of breast cancer as they believe it means surgery.
“Surgery means some form of mutilation and there is a stigma associated with that.”
But early detection of the disease is key to survival, Dr Debouni said.
There are four stages of breast cancer, which is defined by the prevalence and size of lymph nodes and tumours in the breast.
If caught in stage one, the chance of survival is between 95 and 100 per cent.
By stage four, this reduces to just 20 per cent, Dr Debouni said.
Between 60 and 65 per cent of breast cancer patients in the UAE are diagnosed in stage one – up from about 40 per cent 15 years ago, he added.
From the age of 20, women should carry out self-examinations every month and have a physical exam with a GP every three years to increase the chance of catching the disease early.
After the age of 40, women should have a mammogram every two years, said the Iraqi consultant general surgeon.
Breast cancer is more common among women but men can also be victims. The latest statistics from the UAE’s Pink Caravan awareness campaign state that one in every 100 cases is a man.
Dr Debouni said patients should be aware that breast cancer does not always equal a mastectomy.
“Advancements in managing breast cancer means a simple lumpectomy, which removes the tumour and surrounding tissue in the breast without the need for a mastectomy, followed by chemotherapy or radiography,” he said.
Breast cancer is the most diagnosed form of the disease in both Abu Dhabi and Dubai.
“At least 60 per cent of the cases of cancer we see are breast cancer cases,” said Dr Shaheenah Dawood, a consultant medical oncologist at Dubai Health Authority.
Dr Dawood believes there should be a national breast-cancer screening programme for all women.
At the moment access to screening depends on what each clinic offers and patients’ health insurance.
“Early detection means you catch the disease either at the pre-malignant stage or very early malignant stage, where long-term cure is possible,” she said. “The more advanced the disease, the more difficult it is to treat.”
Dr Dawood said there were many misconceptions associated with breast cancer.
“First, women think cancer is not curable and second, there is a belief that treatment for this disease is not available here,” she said. “We can cure breast cancer if patients present early.
“We cannot cure diabetes and we cannot cure hypertension but we can certainly cure breast cancer.
“The treatment a patient would receive in the UAE is just as good, if not better, compared to the rest of the world. Most drugs needed to treat this disease become available in the UAE almost as soon as they are approved in the US.
“Over the last decade, newer treatment options are available, allowing for long-term cure. We now understand the biology of the disease better and we recognise that not all breast cancer is the same.
“Treatment has to be individualised based on the tumour biology.
“The one-size-fits-all strategy of treatment no longer exists.”
While early detection and screening is the best way to treat breast cancer, there are ways to lower the risk of getting the disease, Dr Debouni said.
“People cannot mitigate age, sex, or genetic factors but lifestyle is a very important part when we talk about risk factors,” he said.
“Obese people have a higher risk of breast cancer, as is a sedentary lifestyle. Eat healthier and do exercise and that will definitely reduce the risk of breast cancer.”
Breast Cancer Awareness Month, which is marked in countries across the world every October, helps to bring people’s attention to the disease.
jbell@thenational.ae
Ant-Man and the Wasp
Director: Peyton Reed
Starring: Paul Rudd, Evangeline Lilly, Michael Douglas
Three stars
Electoral College Victory
Trump has so far secured 295 Electoral College votes, according to the Associated Press, exceeding the 270 needed to win. Only Nevada and Arizona remain to be called, and both swing states are leaning Republican. Trump swept all five remaining swing states, North Carolina, Georgia, Pennsylvania, Michigan and Wisconsin, sealing his path to victory and giving him a strong mandate.
Popular Vote Tally
The count is ongoing, but Trump currently leads with nearly 51 per cent of the popular vote to Harris’s 47.6 per cent. Trump has over 72.2 million votes, while Harris trails with approximately 67.4 million.
Jawan
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The specs: 2018 Mitsubishi Eclipse Cross
Price, base / as tested: Dh101,140 / Dh113,800
Engine: Turbocharged 1.5-litre four-cylinder
Power: 148hp @ 5,500rpm
Torque: 250Nm @ 2,000rpm
Transmission: Eight-speed CVT
Fuel consumption, combined: 7.0L / 100km
THE SPECS
Engine: 4.4-litre V8
Transmission: Automatic
Power: 530bhp
Torque: 750Nm
Price: Dh535,000
On sale: Now
DUBAI WORLD CUP CARNIVAL CARD
6.30pm Handicap US$135,000 (Turf) 2,410m
7.05pm UAE 1000 Guineas Listed $250,000 (Dirt) 1,600m
7.40pm Dubai Dash Listed $175,000 (T) 1,000m
8.15pm Al Bastakiya Trial Conditions $100,000 (D) 1.900m
8.50pm Al Fahidi Fort Group Two $250,000 (T) 1,400m
9.25pm Handicap $135,000 (D) 2,000m
The National selections
6.30pm: Gifts Of Gold
7.05pm Final Song
7.40pm Equilateral
8.15pm Dark Of Night
8.50pm Mythical Magic
9.25pm Franz Kafka
Key facilities
- Olympic-size swimming pool with a split bulkhead for multi-use configurations, including water polo and 50m/25m training lanes
- Premier League-standard football pitch
- 400m Olympic running track
- NBA-spec basketball court with auditorium
- 600-seat auditorium
- Spaces for historical and cultural exploration
- An elevated football field that doubles as a helipad
- Specialist robotics and science laboratories
- AR and VR-enabled learning centres
- Disruption Lab and Research Centre for developing entrepreneurial skills
SPEC%20SHEET%3A%20APPLE%20IPHONE%2015%20PRO%20MAX
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Juliot Vinolia’s checklist for adopting alternate-day fasting
- Don’t do it more than once in three days
- Don’t go under 700 calories on fasting days
- Ensure there is sufficient water intake, as the body can go in dehydration mode
- Ensure there is enough roughage (fibre) in the food on fasting days as well
- Do not binge on processed or fatty foods on non-fasting days
- Complement fasting with plant-based foods, fruits, vegetables, seafood. Cut out processed meats and processed carbohydrates
- Manage your sleep
- People with existing gastric or mental health issues should avoid fasting
- Do not fast for prolonged periods without supervision by a qualified expert
CREW
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ALL THE RESULTS
Bantamweight
Siyovush Gulmomdov (TJK) bt Rey Nacionales (PHI) by decision.
Lightweight
Alexandru Chitoran (ROU) bt Hussein Fakhir Abed (SYR) by submission.
Catch 74kg
Omar Hussein (JOR) bt Tohir Zhuraev (TJK) by decision.
Strawweight (Female)
Seo Ye-dam (KOR) bt Weronika Zygmunt (POL) by decision.
Featherweight
Kaan Ofli (TUR) bt Walid Laidi (ALG) by TKO.
Lightweight
Abdulla Al Bousheiri (KUW) bt Leandro Martins (BRA) by TKO.
Welterweight
Ahmad Labban (LEB) bt Sofiane Benchohra (ALG) by TKO.
Bantamweight
Jaures Dea (CAM) v Nawras Abzakh (JOR) no contest.
Lightweight
Mohammed Yahya (UAE) bt Glen Ranillo (PHI) by TKO round 1.
Lightweight
Alan Omer (GER) bt Aidan Aguilera (AUS) by TKO round 1.
Welterweight
Mounir Lazzez (TUN) bt Sasha Palatkinov (HKG) by TKO round 1.
Featherweight title bout
Romando Dy (PHI) v Lee Do-gyeom (KOR) by KO round 1.
India Test squad
Virat Kohli (c), Mayank Agarwal, Rohit Sharma, Cheteshwar Pujara, Ajinkya Rahane, Hanuma Vihari, Rishabh Pant (wk), Wriddhiman Saha (wk), Ravichandran Ashwin, Ravindra Jadeja, Kuldeep Yadav, Mohammed Shami, Umesh Yadav, Ishant Sharma, Shubman Gill
UAE currency: the story behind the money in your pockets