As National Breast Cancer Awareness month gets under way, Abu Dhabi Week finds out more about this silent killer

Breast cancer threatens one in eight women worldwide during their lifetimes. In the UAE, breast cancer is the most common form of female cancer (although some men are also affected).

Fortunately, when caught in the early stages – largely through self examinations and screenings – survival and recovery is possible 98 percent of the time.

Read on for inspiring real life superwomen survivors, find out just what doctors suggest to keep yourself healthy and, lastly, see how you can help support this cause through a variety of activities hosted this month.

Doctor’s Orders

Dr Balaji Balasubramanian, specialist oncologist surgeon at NMC Specialty Hospital Abu Dhabi, explains what happens inside your body when diagnosed with breast cancer. “Usually after the age of 40, the cells lining the duct (which is a tube from which milk is secreted) for some reason grow faster and can become cancerous. Cells can multiply out of control and out of normal rhythm and become cancerous in a certain group of people.”

Breast cancer has four stages that become more advanced as the cancer spreads. The stages are determined by the size of the lump, whether it is invasive or non-invasive cancer, cancer in the lymph nodes and if the cancer has spread to other parts of the body.

There are a few risk factors that may make it more prevalent in a specific group of women; however Dr Balasubramanian is keen to stress that much of this is pure speculation. “We still don’t know, definitively, if certain women will develop breast cancer or not.”

Today, genetic predisposition or patients with a family history of breast cancer is the “single most important factor” in assessing the risk.

With regards to early detection he says, “The focus is on women beyond the age of 40 but teaching should start by the age of 20.

Every woman needs to know how to examine her breast for early detection. Self breast examinations (SBE) should be conducted once a month, five to seven days after menses. Women should have clinical examinations by a physician once every three years and as long as they don’t develop any problems, they don’t need to be evaluated further.

“After the age of 40 the present guidelines suggest a monthly SBE, annual clinical examination by a doctor and a mammogram once every two years. For women with a family history, the policy guidelines remain the same but the screening years may change.”

For women who have relatives who were diagnosed at an earlier age, the screening years should be shifted to be five years earlier.

“Ultimately, early detection is a combination of clinical examination by the doctor, investigation, SBE and most importantly, the motivation of the patient. Adequate SBE and awareness for early detection makes a huge difference. Around 50 percent of present cancers can be diagnosed earlier than when they are being diagnosed right now – which in turn is expected to result in prolonged survival.

Treatment for breast cancer follows four different stages that include surgery, chemotherapy (over six months approximately), radiation (for one month) and tablet hormone treatment that can range for one to five years. All of the treatment facilities are available within the UAE.

Survivors’ stories

“I am the first one in my family to have breast cancer,” says one school teacher and mother of two who wishes to remain anonymous. In January 2010, the teacher discovered a lump after being awoken with an itching in her breast one night.

“I did not tell my husband for two days. I didn’t want to trouble him, but I realised that it is not good and I should tell, especially if something happens.

“I never thought this would happen. Even after the report I still couldn’t believe it.”

Fortunately, she had caught the lump between stage one and two and was operated on within one week of the positive diagnosis.

“People were sad for me but I told them I want your prayers not your sympathy,” she says. Following a tough treatment that included complications from a previous medical condition, she stayed positive by “thinking that one day of treatment is decreasing”.

She has rejoined her school for the new academic year and wants to share the importance of early detection with others. “I was quite upset, but by God’s grace everything went well,” she says. “I advise everyone to go for a regular check up, have courage, stay positive, eat well and have faith in your doctor.”

Shalini Bothello

Self-confessed workaholic Shalini Bothello didn’t have time to get sick. In fact throughout her treatment she worked in her office.

“Can you believe it, I was at work every single day. I used to do my radiations on my lunch break.”

Diagnosed with stage two A at age 44, after a mammogram and biopsy yielded inconsistent results, she is thankful that she caught it when she did. “I didn’t lose my breast because I was at the initial stages. In fact throughout my whole treatment I feel very lucky since I realised God had planned my life in such a beautiful way.”

It seems whenever treatments became tough, Bothello’s problems would be answered. She describes losing her hair during chemotherapy as “something terrible – I felt I had lost my identity all together”. Luckily a call from a friend had sent her to a wig shop the day before, so the next day at work “that problem was solved”.

She credits her strong faith and constant prayer for giving her such a positive experience with cancer. “I’ve counseled so many cancer patients now, I feel the need to spread the message that this diagnosis doesn’t need to be treated with depression or that your days are numbered.

“I know what patients go through. I want to say this is not the end of life. It is so very important that you bring them out of the trauma (of diagnosis) otherwise they may go into depression. And that doesn’t help the doctor or yourself in anyway.”

Sawaiba Khan

The Stats

• Cancer is the third leading cause of death in the UAE after heart attacks and accidents
• One out of every eight women are at risk of developing breast cancer
• Worldwide about 1.1 million women are diagnosed with breast cancer every year
• Approximately 160 women develop breast cancer every year in Abu Dhabi
• In the UAE, most women are diagnosed in the later stages of breast cancer
• If found at an early stage, 98 percent of women will survive
• 80 percent of breast lumps are benign (non-cancerous)
• 87 percent of breast cancer cases occur after the age of 40 in the UAE

Information provided by Dr Balasubramanian MBBS, MS, DNB, FRCS, MCh. Specialist Oncology Surgeon,
NMC Specialty Hospital Abu Dhabi

Support the cause:

Pink Polo

Launched last year at the Ghantoot Racing and Polo Club, this event aims to be “an innovative platform for the community as a whole to join forces in educating each other and overcoming taboos associated with the disease,” says founder Carrie McNeill. Watch a world class polo match and visit the Pink Majlis to speak to medical experts, learn SBE techniques and undergo free screenings at the mobile mammogram unit!

Pink Polo takes place in Ghantoot on Saturday 29th October. Admission is free and gates open at 2pm.

Spreading the Word

The Health Authority – Abu Dhabi (HAAD) has launched an Emirates-wide breast health awareness campaign entitled “Get Active and Simply Check”.

Check out the other events HAAD will be participating in this month:

• Pink-A-Thon in Yas Island, Radisson Blu/Park Inn Hotel on 14th October
• Pink Table at Higher Colleges of Technology from 13th to 19th October
• Al Wahda vs Al Ain Football match on 21st October

Get decked
Purchase a Purely Pearls Breast Cancer bracelet at AED 150, and 20 percent of the proceeds will go to local breast cancer charities. Visit the Purely Pearls Facebook page for more details or email This e-mail address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it

Get Checked
Visit the Pink Corner of the NMC Speciality Hospital to find resources
on breast cancer education, reflection and risk assessment. While you’re
there, take advantage of the 50
percent off mammogram checks available for cash patients during the month of October.

Want more? Visit HAAD’s breast cancer website to find tips for breast health, procedures/diagrams for SBE, screening centres and hear more survivors’ stories by visiting www.simplycheck.ae