Bahrain - Cancer among women is on the rise in Bahrain – with females accounting for more than 50 per cent of the total cases.
The International Agency for Research on Cancer (IARC), in its latest report, recorded 1,048 new cancer cases in the country in 2018 – of which 567 (54.2pc) were women and 480 (45.8pc) men.
Breast cancer was the most common, contributing to 20 per cent of the total diagnosed that year.
It was also among the top five cancers in women, accounting for over 40pc – or a total of 227 cases.
The figures by IARC, a subsidiary of the World Health Organisation (WHO), are based on the Bahrain National Cancer Registry.
Bahrain’s figures are in contrast with trends in the West where, according to studies, men were 60pc more likely to get cancer than women and 70pc more likely to die from it.
A total of 8.5pc of women in Bahrain were found to suffer from colorectum cancer, followed by 32 cases of ovarian cancer (6.2pc), 29 corpus uteri (5.1pc) and 26 cases of thyroid cancer (4.6pc), while all other cancers accounted for the remaining 35.7pc.
However, the fatalities were more among men with 310 males dying of cancer in 2018, while it was 293 among women.
Bahrain Cancer Society (BCS) board chairman Dr Abdulrahman Fakhro pointed out a steady rise in breast cancer patients over the last few years.
However, he said comparative figures were not available due to lack of updated local data.
He attributed the rise in breast cancer cases to an increased awareness – with more women opting for screening and periodic self-examination. “In the last seven months we had limitations due to Covid-19 and the society has not been able to update its own registry of the cases,” Dr Fakhro told the GDN.
“The process of screening has also slowed down due to Covid-19. However, I am sure cases have increased tremendously.
“I am inferring this from the tendency and prevalence in the country. Add to it the increased awareness of self-examination methods, which will always bring up more cases.
“Moreover, the fear and stigma attached to cancer of any kind has been slowly reducing which is leading to women coming forward for tests.
“This is positive, while we must have specific statistics, which is awaited from the national cancer registry, to assess further and take necessary steps,” he said.
Bahrain’s national cancer registry is updated every five years, but Dr Fakhro suggested the need for a periodic update.
“Early detection is important and tests like mammography and sonogram helps,” he said.
He also explained that the causes of breast cancer could be many. It could be genetic or due to higher amounts of estrogen hormone in blood, which he said, citing studies, is a key risk factor.
According to researchers, some factors that increase cancer risk include being overweight or obese, physical inactivity, a diet high in red and processed meats, smoking and high alcohol intake, and a family history of cancer.
The GDN reported earlier that BCS in partnership with the ministry, helped to establish a cancer registry office and a cancer centre to provide palliative or hospice care.
It also launched the National Screening Campaign for Early Detection of Breast Cancer in 2005 for all women aged 40 and over, which helped in raising public awareness.
Mammogram services are provided at all governorate’s health centres to improve access and reduce waiting times.
Meanwhile, the IARC report shows that colorectum tops the list of cancer in men – with 72 cases (15pc), followed by lung and prostrate (8.1pc each), bladder (7.9pc) and non-Hodgkin lymphoma (7.9pc). The rest includes other types of cancers amounting to 234 (48.8pc).
The agency said 11.5pc of people aged above 75 are at the risk of developing cancer.
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