Mubadala healthcare experts urge screening for the early detection and treatment of breast cancer in the UAE

Abu Dhabi, United Arab Emirates :

During Breast Cancer Awareness Month in October, medical experts at National Reference Laboratory and Healthpoint premium specialty hospital  — both part of Mubadala Healthcare’s network — are urging UAE women to take charge of their health by performing regular self-examinations and undergoing the appropriate screening tests according to their age and risk factors.

These calls are in line with The National Agenda and the UAE Vision 2021, which include cancer as one of their main Key Performance Indicators (KPIs) and aim to reduce cancer mortality.

Early detection when the disease is in its initial stages (0-II) and has not yet spread to other parts of the body requires less aggressive treatment and has a very good prognosis with a survival rate of between 93 to 100 percent. However, if left undetected and allowed to progress untreated, the survival rate of this disease drops significantly to 22 percent.

Dr Suhaila Alameeri, Consultant Anatomic Pathologist at National Reference Laboratory and member of the National Taskforce for the Breast and Cervical Cancer Screening Program, said: “Breast cancer is the most common form of cancer affecting women around the world, including the UAE. It is also among the top five causes of death among the different cancer types. Thus, it is a national public health concern and many women wait until they experience symptoms before consulting with their doctor. In fact, a study on the disease in the country has shown that more than 60 percent of women presented at a late stage of the disease.”

“Education and awareness are very important. Women need to know their family’s medical history and their susceptibility to the disease, and they need to understand that, in many cases, symptoms of breast cancer will not appear until the disease has progressed to a more advanced stage. This is why regular screening is important.”

Dr Alameeri explained that later-stage detection of breast cancer decreases the chances of long-term survival and makes it more difficult to treat the disease without resorting to aggressive treatment plans.

The cancer screening guidelines of the Department of Health – Abu Dhabi recommend that all women between 40-69 years of age — and those who have a greater risk due to their family history or patient medical records — undergo a mammogram screening every two years. A mammogram is an X-ray of the breast used to detect cancer cells.

Dr Mai Sultan Al Jaber, Medical Director at Healthpoint, which offers mammography screening to patients, said: “The most important benefit is that it promotes early detection and treatment of breast cancer that can save many women’s lives. The procedure is safe as there is only a tiny amount of radiation exposure. It’s also quick, taking around 20 minutes, and for most women the discomfort is minimal.”

Dr Al Jaber explains that women should regularly consult their doctors to undergo appropriate clinical breast exams and screening tests. She adds that not all breast cancers cause a lump in the breast and that they are usually detected on a mammogram long before they can be seen or felt, and before they cause symptoms.

“If this screening makes potential abnormalities visible, several other imaging and/or laboratory diagnostic testing can be carried out to further evaluate those abnormalities and confirm or exclude a breast cancer diagnosis.” said Dr. Al Ameeri.

Genetic testing can be also used to help determine a woman’s risk of developing breast cancer. BReast CAncer susceptibility gene 1 (BRCA1) and BReast CAncer susceptibility gene 2 (BRCA2) testing can determine if harmful mutations are present that increase the risk for the carrier to develop the disease.

For women who inherit a BRCA1 mutation, their risk of developing breast cancer by the age of 80 can increase from 12 to 72 percent, and for those who inherit a BRCA2 mutation, it can increase to 69 percent.

As a result, it is recommended that women with a family history of breast cancer undergo this testing to better understand their risk and help put in place preventative strategies and early intervention for enhanced patient management. Additionally, intensive surveillance programs can be implemented, including increased frequency of mammograms, based on genomic risk.

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About Mubadala Investment Company

Mubadala Investment Company actively manages a worldwide portfolio supporting the vision of a globally integrated and diversified economy, through sustainable returns to its shareholder, the Government of Abu Dhabi. In March 2018, Abu Dhabi Investment Council (ADIC) joined the Group.

Mubadala’s US $225 billion (AED 830 billion) portfolio spans five continents with interests in aerospace, ICT, semiconductors, metals and mining, renewable energy, oil and gas, petrochemicals, utilities, healthcare, real estate, defense services, pharmaceuticals and medical technology, agribusiness and a global portfolio of financial holdings. Mubadala is a trusted partner, an engaged shareholder and a responsible global company that is committed to ethics and world-class standards.

For more information about Mubadala, please visit: www.mubadala.com 

About National Reference Laboratory

National Reference Laboratory (NRL) is a Mubadala company created in partnership with and managed by LabCorp, a leading global life sciences company providing comprehensive clinical laboratory services. NRL’s vision is to increase the spectrum, coverage and overall efficiency of laboratory testing, to implement international best practice reference laboratory processes and to set the benchmark for quality standards in the region.

Together with the significant resources of LabCorp, NRL offers a comprehensive menu of more than 4,700 tests, providing a complete solution for all clinical testing needs in an efficient and high-quality environment that reduces both turnaround time and logistics-related costs, compared with other laboratories. The diverse and growing network of NRL currently includes ten owned and managed laboratories across the UAE. For more information, please visit www.nrl.ae 

About Healthpoint

Healthpoint, part of Mubadala’s integrated network of world-class healthcare providers, is a premium hospital with three specialty centers – the Bariatric & Metabolic Surgery Centre, the Dental Clinic and Musculoskeletal. Based in Abu Dhabi and accepting patients throughout the UAE and GCC, the hospital provides community care, grounded in the latest internationally recognized medical approaches.

Healthpoint is committed to working with companies within the Mubadala Healthcare Network and with its strategic partners from the world’s best healthcare organizations, as well as other hospitals and clinics locally and regionally. We deliver quality and accessible care and education to everyone, from patients and their families to communities, to achieve better health together. Healthpoint’s innovative care and health programs offer our patients and the community the specific tools they need to make better choices regarding their health and lead healthier, happier, and longer lives.

Healthpoint’s compassionate clinical staff are leaders in their respective fields and combine international standards and latest innovations with local understanding to create a world-class hospital experience. The clinical and non-clinical staff work as one integrated team in a culture that continuously aims to improve patient experience, outcomes and employee engagement. Healthpoint provides full-cycle organized care using the integrated practice unit (IPU) model, which tailors treatment around the individual patient, with every action in the practice complementing the other to increase standards, avoid unnecessary care and simplify each patient’s journey. 

Media Contacts:
Salma Chalak, Consultant, Wallis PR
Telephone: +071 58 982 9525
Email: salma.chalak@wallispr.com 

© Press Release 2019