Breast cancer screening available at DHA centres

Breast cancer screenings have been made available at a number of healthcare centres in Dubai, the Dubai Health Authority (DHA) has announced.

“The mammogram machine and breast cancer screening service has been introduced at Al Barsha Health Centre already, and will be introduced at Nad Al Hamar Health Centre by September this year and in Al Mizhar Health Centre by the end of the year,” said Manal Taryam, CEO of Primary Healthcare at the DHA.

The services are in addition to those offered in the DHA hospitals and aim to make preventive healthcare more accessible.

“Breast cancer is the commonest cancer in women worldwide; early detection and treatment is absolutely essential to reduce the burden of the disease and this can be achieved through the screening programme. Through the introduction of this service, we will further improve quality of care and enhance preventive care which leads to improved patient outcomes,” said Essa Al Maidoor, Director-General of the DHA.

Regular breast cancer screening is advised for women above the age of 40 and women with a family history of cancer. In the last case, screenings are recommended in an earlier stage.

“If the patient’s mother was diagnosed with breast cancer at the age of 39, the patient should begin her breast cancer screening at 29 years – at least 10 years prior – to maximise the chances of early detection,” said Taryam.

“The aim of breast screening is to detect breast cancer early so that treatment will be more effective. With early detection, the prognosis of the patient is much better, with an increased chance of survival and statistically higher life expectancy.”

A weekly breast cancer screening clinic will be held in Al Barsha Health Centre by two radiologists and four radiographers. For regular visits the patient must attend a general practitioner who will refer to the specialists if needed.

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