DUBAI // Doctors say the increase in breast cancer cases among younger women in the UAE presents a new challenge in the fight against the disease.
“The incidence of breast cancer in women under 40 years of age is on the rise in the UAE,” said Dr Houriya Kazim, consultant breast surgeon at the Well Woman Clinic, Dubai.
“What makes this trend especially worrying is that breast cancer in younger women is generally more aggressive, and less likely to have a sustained response to treatment than in older women.”
The percentage of women who have breast cancer diagnosed in the UAE is similar to the global average.
According to a 2010 report by the Centre for Arab Genomic Studies however, Arab women are more likely to develop breast cancer at an earlier age. Research at the Weill Cornell Medical College in Qatar last year supported the findings, saying the disease appears in Arab women on average 10 years earlier than among women in Europe.
Dr Kazim said: “Many young women tend to think that breast cancer cannot happen to them, and as a result develop a false sense of security about their risks for developing the disease.
“While it is more common in women over 40 years of age and those with a strong family history of the disease, the truth is that breast cancer can affect women regardless of their age, racial group, genetic factors or reproductive history.”
She said only 20 per cent of patients had a family member who had been affected by the disease.
“So, the rationale that no one in the family has had breast cancer cannot be an excuse for avoiding screening,” she said.
A mammogram can, on average, diagnose a cancerous lump three years before it becomes palpable.
Dr Kazim said a healthy lifestyle was important. “Limiting alcohol, abstaining from smoking, and exercising regularly can go a long way towards reducing the risk of breast cancer,” she said.
Linda Berlot is a breast cancer survivor and an ambassador for the BurJuman Mall’s Safe & Sound campaign. She said: “Early detection is the key to effective treatment and often makes the difference between life and death.”
This month, UniCare – BurJuman’s medical partner for Safe & Sound – is offering discounted mammograms, reduced from Dh550 to Dh200. UniCare is also giving away 10,000 free clinical check-ups.
The BurJuman Pink Walkathon will be held on October 31 at Zabeel Park in Dubai.
arizvi2@thenational.ae
COMPANY PROFILE
Name: HyperSpace
Started: 2020
Founders: Alexander Heller, Rama Allen and Desi Gonzalez
Based: Dubai, UAE
Sector: Entertainment
Number of staff: 210
Investment raised: $75 million from investors including Galaxy Interactive, Riyadh Season, Sega Ventures and Apis Venture Partners
TEACHERS' PAY - WHAT YOU NEED TO KNOW
Pay varies significantly depending on the school, its rating and the curriculum. Here's a rough guide as of January 2021:
- top end schools tend to pay Dh16,000-17,000 a month - plus a monthly housing allowance of up to Dh6,000. These tend to be British curriculum schools rated 'outstanding' or 'very good', followed by American schools
- average salary across curriculums and skill levels is about Dh10,000, recruiters say
- it is becoming more common for schools to provide accommodation, sometimes in an apartment block with other teachers, rather than hand teachers a cash housing allowance
- some strong performing schools have cut back on salaries since the pandemic began, sometimes offering Dh16,000 including the housing allowance, which reflects the slump in rental costs, and sheer demand for jobs
- maths and science teachers are most in demand and some schools will pay up to Dh3,000 more than other teachers in recognition of their technical skills
- at the other end of the market, teachers in some Indian schools, where fees are lower and competition among applicants is intense, can be paid as low as Dh3,000 per month
- in Indian schools, it has also become common for teachers to share residential accommodation, living in a block with colleagues
THE SPECS
Engine: 4.4-litre V8
Transmission: Automatic
Power: 530bhp
Torque: 750Nm
Price: Dh535,000
On sale: Now
THE%20SPECS
%3Cp%3EBattery%3A%2060kW%20lithium-ion%20phosphate%3Cbr%3EPower%3A%20Up%20to%20201bhp%3Cbr%3E0%20to%20100kph%3A%207.3%20seconds%3Cbr%3ERange%3A%20418km%3Cbr%3EPrice%3A%20From%20Dh149%2C900%3Cbr%3EAvailable%3A%20Now%3C%2Fp%3E%0A
If you go
Where to stay: Courtyard by Marriott Titusville Kennedy Space Centre has unparalleled views of the Indian River. Alligators can be spotted from hotel room balconies, as can several rocket launch sites. The hotel also boasts cool space-themed decor.
When to go: Florida is best experienced during the winter months, from November to May, before the humidity kicks in.
How to get there: Emirates currently flies from Dubai to Orlando five times a week.
German intelligence warnings
- 2002: "Hezbollah supporters feared becoming a target of security services because of the effects of [9/11] ... discussions on Hezbollah policy moved from mosques into smaller circles in private homes." Supporters in Germany: 800
- 2013: "Financial and logistical support from Germany for Hezbollah in Lebanon supports the armed struggle against Israel ... Hezbollah supporters in Germany hold back from actions that would gain publicity." Supporters in Germany: 950
- 2023: "It must be reckoned with that Hezbollah will continue to plan terrorist actions outside the Middle East against Israel or Israeli interests." Supporters in Germany: 1,250
Source: Federal Office for the Protection of the Constitution
