to start incorporating self-check-ups from an early age. Dr Jawahar Charles Mathais from Dubai London Clinic and Speciality Hospital said, "We usually recommend after 40 years, but as breast cancer is getting more common and seen in younger patients and patients in a high-risk group, we advise breast self- examination, check-ups, and ultrasound examination at age 25 and above." Women that are at the most risk, as mentioned by Dr Shweta Agarwal of Allied Medical Centre include: • The risk for breast cancer increases with age. Most breast cancers are diagnosed after age 50 • Women who have inherited changes (mutations) to certain genes, such as BRCA 1 and BRCA 2, are at higher risk of breast and ovarian cancer • Starting menstrual periods before age 12 and starting menopause after age 55 expose women to hormones longer, raising their risk of getting breast cancer • Dense breasts have more connective tissue than fatty tissue, which can sometimes make it hard to see tumours on a mammo gram. • Women with dense breasts are more likely to get breast cancer • Personal history of breast cancer or certain non-cancerous breast diseases • Family history of breast or ovarian cancer • Previous treatment using radiation therapy • Exposure to the drug diethylstilbestrol (DES) • Breast cancer survival rates According to 'Breast cancer survival and its prognostic factors in the United Arab Emirates: A retrospective study', in 2021, breast cancer in the UAE has a five-year survival rate of 89%. The severity of breast cancer is divided into four stages and Dr Shweta Agarwal of Allied Medical Centre mentioned that, "The survival rate also depends on the biological subtype of cancer and staging." Dr Rania Soued from Mediclinic Al Sufouh added, "Stage 4 breast cancer is the latest stage. Though treatable, metastatic breast cancer cannot be cured as it has spread outside the breast and may be affecting vital organs, like the brain and lungs. The five-year survival rate for stage 4 breast cancer is 22%, average survival is three years." On surviving breast cancer, Dr Jawahar Charles Mathais of Dubai London Clinic and Speciality Hospital added, "As everywhere else, this depends on the stage at which it was diagnosed and the urgency with which treatment was initiated." The idea of regular check-ups and self- examinations can be extremely worrying, especially for people with family history, rather than not knowing what the outcome will be, finding out can give the individual more time to recover. Our bodies always give us signals when something is wrong, and listening to your body and the signs given is important. If you feel like there is something wrong, it is always advisable to get a check-up done to rule out any issues. This month, encourage all the women in your life to get regular check-ups and help to tackle breast cancer earlier rather than later. 28 29 CONNECTOR.AE CONNECTOR.AE Health and Wellness Health and Wellness
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