160 Develop Breast Cancer Yearly

Around 160 women develop breast cancer every year in Abu Dhabi only, and 80 per cent of all cancerous lumps are found by women themselves, according to Abu Dhabi Health Authority. Not to forget that health experts warned that cancer is the third leading cause of death in the UAE after cardiovascular diseases and accidents.

“In the developed countries, breast cancer normally occurs in women aged between 45 to 54 years of age. However here in the UAE, women of younger age group are getting it because majority of the population is young. Women as young as 29 years are having breast cancer in the UAE.”

“The most common reason is genetic. It can also be inherited if there were cases of cancer in the family.”

According to the Breast Cancer Registry in Tawam HospitalIn, in 1998, Tawam Hospital regisetered 126 breast cancer cases which jumped to 255 cases in 2008. Of these, 49 cases were among women aged below 40 years. Last year, Abu Dhabi recorded the highest number of breast cancer cases with 51%, and 17% of the cases were from Dubai and Sharjah. Of these, 69 cases were among UAE nationals and 240 cases were among expatriates.