Abu Dhabi doctor issues check-up plea after patient has 2.5kg tumour removed from breast

The woman underwent successful surgery at Tawam Hospital in Al Ain

A breast cancer patient at Tawam Hospital underwent successful surgery to have a 2.5-kilogram tumour removed. Wam

A UAE doctor urged women not to put health check-ups on hold after a patient had a 2.5-kilogram tumour removed from her breast.

The patient, 44, felt a lump several months ago but was reluctant to undergo an examination.

A surgical team at Tawam Hospital in Al Ain conducted the complex tumorectomy.

Dr Moza Al Ameri, consultant breast surgeon, led a team of surgeons who removed the tumour, which was 20 centimetres in diameter.

She called on women to undergo screenings, particularly if they find a lump on their breasts, because early detection is crucial to staving off breast cancer.

Medics around the globe have been highlighting the importance of self-examinations and screenings in October, which is Breast Cancer Awareness Month.

The UAE's Pink Caravan campaign has been leading the charge in the fight against breast cancer since 2011.

Reem Bin Karam, head of the Pink Caravan steering committee, told The National last week there was a drop in the number of cases detected and an increase in screenings during its latest awareness campaign.

The Pink Caravan initiative helped more than 46,000 women get screened since it was established.

The group not only covers treatment but also cares for the family of the patient.

The National spoke to breast cancer survivors this month who stressed the need to take care of your health and not take it for granted.

One survivor, Dr Radwa Helal, said her breast cancer battle gave her a new perspective on life.

When she discovered a lump on her breast two years ago, she dismissed the idea of it being cancer.

"You expect it to happen to anyone but you," said the paediatrician, 41, from Egypt.

Azza Al Jiely was four months pregnant when she discovered she had breast cancer.

She chose to forgo treatment until the baby was born because she feared it would affect her child.

But after her son, Mohammad, was born, her condition deteriorated.

A biopsy taken when he was about a month old confirmed the cancer had grown.

“My doctor scolded me for not seeking treatment earlier. I was an educated 30-year-old who lived in the city with easy access to medical care. He said I should’ve been wiser," said Ms Al Jiely.

She is now calling on anyone who has cancer diagnosed while they are pregnant to seek treatment immediately.