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Breast cancer, if detected early, has curable rate of 98%: Jalaa Taher

Despite the 54 recorded deaths due to breast cancer last year, mortality rate among the UAE nationals from the disease has significantly decreased from 11 per 100,000 women in 2009 to 5.6 per 100,000 women in 2012.

Late detection (stage 3) of breast cancer in the emirate has continually declined over the past six years – from 65 per cent in 2007 to 16 per cent last year. In 2011, it was down to 25 per cent.

Dr Jalaa Taher, manager of non-communicable diseases at the Health Auhtority-Abu Dhabi (Haad), said that this figure is in comparison with the developed countries such as the UK and US.

“We need to maintain this or decrease further to 10-15 per cent,” she said. She said mammogram screening has helped in the reduction of late stage cancer detection, as well as, in diagnosing new cases.

According to her, breast cancer is a preventable disease with a curable rate of up to 98 per cent when diagnosed and treated in early stages. “Early detection is equal to saving lives, and results in less complicated treatment instead of removing the entire breast or hair loss due to chemotherapy,” she pointed out.

As a result of the Simply Check campaign headed by Haad in the past six years, mammogram screening in the emirate increased to 15,749 in 2012, a significant improvement from 4,323 in 2007.

In 2012, 380 individuals were diagnosed with breast cancer, of whom 28 per cent were Emiratis while 72 per cent were expatriates, including four males.

Despite the 54 recorded deaths due to breast cancer last year, mortality rate among the UAE nationals from the disease has significantly decreased from 11 per 100,000 women in 2009 to 5.6 per 100,000 women in 2012.

Breast cancer is the most common kind of cancer in Abu Dhabi and is the leading cause of cancer deaths, accounting for 13 per cent of all cancer deaths in both sexes. It is the second major cause of death, after cardiovascular diseases, among women.

Fifty per cent of women with breast cancer were between the ages 40 and 54; 19 per cent of the highest incidence was in the age group of 45 to 49, while the youngest patient diagnosed with the disease was only 24 years old. In the US, the average age of diagnosis was 61 years.

“You have to do regular screening,” Dr Taher stressed, noting that young women, who are also the target of the campaign, should not disregard symptoms.

According to Dr Taher, although breast cancer has no certain cause, there are risk factors that increase the chance of breast cancer.

These include family history, exposure to large amounts of radiation in childhood, first period (menstruation) before the age of 12, menopause after 55, being overweight, use of hormone replacement therapy, use of birth control pills and alcohol.

“This is mainly due to lifestyle, not genetic per se. Only 5 to 10 per cent of breast cancer is due to inherited gene mutations,” Dr Taher pointed out. Haad’s Breast Cancer Awareness programme is part of the six-month Cancer Wave Health Promotion ‘Live Healthy and Simply Check’ covering four major cancers in the emirate – breast, lung, colorectal and cervical.

This October, to coincide with the Breast Cancer Awareness month, the focus is to educate the public about the importance of regular screening. Several activities are planned across the emirate including free mammogram by mobile screening clinics at various locations – Fatima Ladies Sport Academy in Abu Dhabi from October 21 to 24 and Zayed Sports City in Abu Dhabi on October 25.

According to Dr Omniyat Al Hajri, director of Public Health and Research at Haad, the cost of mammogram (Dh300-Dh500) is one of the main reasons why women do not get themselves checked,.

Breast screening is covered by the Thiqa card for Emiratis and enhanced health plan for expats.

She said Haad is currently looking at ways to “bridge this gap” and activate fundraising activities in future that would raise money to assist women in dire need of cancer treatment or screening.

news@khaleejtimes.com