Breast cancer is a global health concern, impacting millions of women with one in eight being diagnosed in their lifetime. Every year breast cancer awareness month is dedicated to sharing knowledge and dispelling common misconceptions surrounding the disease. This year’s theme, ‘Keeping Her in the Picture’, emphasises the importance of looking out for the well-being of all females in society.
To address key challenges related to breast cancer awareness and early detection, Dr. Mahmoud Abu Dakka, Consultant Oncoplastic Breast Surgeon at Clemenceau Medical Center Hospital Dubai, highlights the significance of early detection.
“Although breast cancer is common in women, it is the most curable cancer, easily detected by a simple mammogram and easily treated when caught early,” he said. He also points out that fear of diagnosis is a major obstacle and suggests that outreach programmes and involving men in awareness activities are vital to overcoming these hurdles.
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Healthcare enablers and providers have a responsibility to address myths, encourage early detection, and promote support and aftercare initiatives. For instance, injuries or the choice of bras do not cause breast cancer, and there's no scientific link between carrying a phone and breast cancer. Dr. Abu Dakka says awareness programmes should start early in schools and universities.
“Fear of the unknown can impact the start of the treatment of these patients. Having a team approach to every patient would support them during the treatment journey with a holistic approach to cover the physical, social, sexual, and psychological aspects.”
Mammograms are crucial for early detection, and with advances in research, there is hope for the countless women diagnosed every year. While age and gender play significant roles in the risk factors, most individuals diagnosed with breast cancer have no family history of the disease and the majority of breast cancer cases are not hereditary.
Environmental and lifestyle factors do contribute significantly, and it is important to encourage regular check-ups regardless of family history. Technology plays a key role, for instance, self-examination kits, driven by artificial intelligence, now offer a user-friendly and efficient method for women to perform self-examinations in the comfort of their homes. These innovations, coupled with telemedicine, have made healthcare more accessible, removing barriers such as fear and time constraints.
"Breast cancer treatment has vastly evolved in the last two decades. On the oncological front, there have been new and advanced chemotherapy and immunotherapy agents that improved the overall outcomes. On the surgical front, there have been some new and advanced tools and techniques that provide patients with state-of-the-art individually tailored surgical solutions to ensure optimum outcomes,” Dr Abu Dakka said.
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With regard to research developments, he notes that doctors are continuously seeing new and adjusted oncological agents to improve outcomes in breast cancer treatment. “I believe the targeted immunotherapy field is scoring high in this area. I suspect we will be using more and more immunotherapy agents, not only in breast cancer but also across the board.”
Breast cancer awareness extends beyond diagnosis. It includes programmes and initiatives that provide comprehensive support and aftercare. Organisations, including Al Jalila Foundation in partnership with Brest Friends, are pioneers in raising awareness, providing medical treatment, and investing in breast cancer research. Support groups like Brest Friends offer emotional and moral support, proving instrumental in the healing process for patients.
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