In the UAE, 4 in 10 women over 40 have never been screened for breast cancer

Doctors are urging women over the age of 40 to get an annual mammogram because a recent survey found 40 percent of women never had it.

Simple screenings include mammograms, which doctors use to look for early signs of cancer.

Of the 302 women surveyed by Sheikh Shakbout Medical City in Abu Dhabi, 80% had breast cancer themselves or knew someone who had breast cancer.

Research has shown that despite awareness campaigns, 50% of women surveyed are reluctant to undergo mammograms.

The main reasons for hesitation included having no symptoms (31%), worrying about the outcome (26%), not having a family history of breast cancer (25%), and not feeling well.

Breast cancer is the most common cancer among women in Abu Dhabi, accounting for almost half of all cancers diagnosed, SSMC said.

Half of breast cancer cases occur in women with no identifiable risk factors for breast cancer other than age. If the disease is caught early, an estimated 98 percent of women will survive, experts say.

Early detection is critical

Early detection is “critical because it’s easier to treat,” said Dr. Holland Ravelle, consultant radiology at SSMC.

“Half of breast cancer cases occur in women with no identifiable risk factors for breast cancer other than age (usually over 40),” she said.

“However, if caught early, most women survive.

“Women over the age of 40 who lead a healthy lifestyle must be screened regularly, as this increases the chance of early detection leading to better treatment outcomes.”

This month, as part of Breast Cancer Awareness Month, the SMCC launched a Breast Cancer Support Group that includes regular support meetings designed to provide patients and their families a safe space to express their feelings and share their unique experiences.

“I know exactly what it’s like to hear that diagnosis,” Sarah, 45, a breast cancer survivor, told National.

“It was so hard that I didn’t even tell my family and friends at first. That’s how scared I was.

“But being able to sit down with them and explain how I feel, not only for me, but for them as well.

“That’s why support groups are so important so we can spread the message to women that they are not alone in their journey.”

family history

There are many misconceptions surrounding breast cancer, especially when it comes to family history.

Riji, a 39-year-old nurse from Abu Dhabi, said she felt healthy and had no family history of cancer. She went to the doctor when she noticed discharge from her breasts. A biopsy showed she had stage 1 cancer.

She underwent breast removal surgery in Mumbai and continued treatment at SSMC. She has been cancer free for a year.

“A message to all women: Never ignore any symptoms or abnormalities you feel in your breasts, and never deny that you will never have breast cancer because you never know,” she said.

Farah, a 49-year-old UAE citizen who works at a bank in Abu Dhabi, said her family had no history of cancer.

In 2013, she discovered a lump in her right breast while on vacation with her family.

“I was lost at that moment. Although I was an educated woman, I had zero medical knowledge and information about breast cancer. I really didn’t know what to do,” she said.

She had a mastectomy at SSMC, but in 2018 another lump was discovered and more surgery was needed.

“My message to all women is to educate yourself and focus on your health, not just your career. Find time to take care of yourself — never give up and always hope you can beat it,” she said.

“I’ve been through a really tough journey, but I continue to work and encourage positive thoughts, like imagining my daughter’s future wedding, and I want to be there alive.

“Cancer isn’t the end of the world, and it doesn’t mean you’re going to die. Where there is a will, there is.”

Updated: 10/28/2022 3:30am