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How can you turn breast cancer into a curable disease

Dubai - Women with harmful mutations have a risk of breast cancer that is about five times the normal risk, and a risk of ovarian cancer that is about 10 to 30 times than normal.

Do you know how little it takes to make breast cancer into a curable disease rather than a fatal one? Well, learning about the disease and detecting it at an early stage is the key to getting rid of it. And since this month is dedicated to breast cancer, women can avail free screenings and tests being done at the Zulekha Hospital as part of its Pink It Now campaign.

Dr Hani Sbitani, plastic and reconstructing surgeon specialising in reconstructive and cosmetic breast surgery at Zulekha Hospital, said: "There is no certain age bracket for breast cancer. Women of all age groups can get affected by this. That is why one of the core groups we are targetting in this campaign is the younger lot in their 20s and 30s because many of them may be recipients of BRCA mutation and may not even know it."

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A BRCA mutation is a mutation in either of the BRCA1 and BRCA2 genes, which are tumour suppressor genes. Women with harmful mutations have a risk of breast cancer that is about five times the normal risk, and a risk of ovarian cancer that is about 10 to 30 times than normal.

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"Detecting breast cancer early can save your life and this can be done when you come for a screening. This may help identify the potential need to test for a BRCA mutation. So certainly no one is immune to breast cancer ... any woman of any age is at potential risk of either BRCA mutation or breast cancer."

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As far as mammogram is concerned, Dr Hani said: "Without a significant family history, it is recommended that women consider screening with mammography around the age of 40. Those with a family history (first degree relative like mother, aunt, sister) should start screening at a younger age, potentially in their 30s. But why take the risk, every woman in their 20s and 30s should at least start performing self breast examinations."

But if the disease progresses beyond a point, breast cancer can be fatal. "And that's why we're campaigning for public awareness and education here in the UAE, encouraging all women to start screening with mammograms."