From zero awareness to a full package of world-class care and patient support, breast cancer treatment has come a long way in the UAE.
It is 20 years since the founding of Brest Friends, a patient support group which has helped thousands of women deal with the uncertainty and fear surrounding the life threatening condition.
Although survival rates are on the increase, so are cancer rates in general – with the founders of Brest Friends warning complacency is the biggest barrier in the way of further progress.
The latest National Cancer Registry showed breast cancer remained the most common form of the disease, but just 25 per cent of at-risk women were being screened.
One of the UAE’s first female consultant breast surgeons, Dr Houriya Kazim, is medical director of the Well Woman Clinic and founding president of Brest Friends.
While great strides have been made in attitudes towards breast cancer, she said there is still work to do.
“In 1998 when I first arrived here, there was absolutely no awareness of breast cancer, I mean zero,” she told The National. “I was seeing advanced breast cancer cases, and it was very difficult to develop advice and awareness within the cultural boundaries of the time.”
“I put together videos in five different regional languages, basically showing women how to examine their breast without actually showing a breast. Then some women started asking for a support group, as they liked to talk.
“I had people actually call patients up, ask them what they thought and the majority wanted something like that, so it began from there.”
Soaring cancer cases
Cancer is the fifth leading cause of death in the UAE, and responsible for about eight per cent of all deaths.
Since 2019, there has been a 60 per cent increase in cancer cases, largely due to better diagnostic screening and a growing population, but also more lifestyle related risk factors such as obesity and smoking.
Since the launch of Brest Friends in 2005, scores of women and their families have benefited from support and guidance from health professionals, and others who have experienced cancer.
The group meets monthly in hotels in Dubai, bringing the cancer community together to discuss a shared view and pass on advice. A WhatsApp group also exists to offer quick tips and answer questions.
Dr Kazam now believes more is needed to be done for other forms of cancer.
“Our therapy has always been talking to friends and other women, that's just been our way of dealing with life in general,” she said. “We have several patients with other types of cancer because there aren't any support groups for them. Cancer affects everyone, it doesn't know who's rich, or who's poor.”
While arduous radiation treatments and chemotherapies can be physically demanding, the psychological toll on patients is an often underreported aspect of recovery.
Since 2015, a drop in centre founded by Dr Kazim has been supporting women trying to navigate the path to recovery. It is now run by the Al Jalila Foundation.
Charity partnership
The Majlis Al Amal cancer drop-in centre in Dubai Healthcare City offers a safe space for patients and their families to relax and receive both support and expert advice. All services are offered free of charge, with volunteers often having experienced cancer themselves.
British primary schoolteacher Charlotte Rule was diagnosed with breast cancer in July 2022 when she was seven months pregnant with twin boys. Doctors decided to deliver the babies early through emergency Caesarean section due to an unrelated medical condition, pre-eclampsia.
Three years on and the boys Reuben and Ezra are healthy, while Ms Rule has almost fully recovered.
“The hardest bit was the fact that I actually found a lump in February and it took until July to get diagnosed,” she said. “Originally my condition was misdiagnosed as fibroids, and I was told not to worry about it.
“As it was getting bigger, I moved hospitals to see a breast specialist, but had to wait for my insurance to come through before I was able to get an appointment, which delayed my treatment."
In response to the most recent national cancer figures that showed more than half of cancer (56 per cent) is found in women, doctors said there was an urgent need for a national insurance code for cancer management to improve access to care.
Because of the variation in policies and approvals, early detection can be delayed due to administrative delays, doctors said.
The Al Jalila Foundation said it had seen a huge increase in applications for financial support from cancer patients, largely as a result of increasing cases, insufficient insurance coverage and high treatment costs.
Psychological impact in recovery
Dealing with the long term psychological impact of breast cancer can also be a challenge, and is where support groups come into their own.
Dr Melanie Schlatter, a health psychologist at American Hospital Dubai, said Brest Friends offers support that otherwise may be out of reach.
“Post-diagnosis, women often face emotional distress, such as anxiety and depression, body image struggles and social isolation,” she said. “Longer term, there is psychological impact, trauma, lingering anxiety and identity challenges that can persist for years, even after remission.”
Through Brest Friends, women can access peer connections, survivorship activities and general psychological safety through shared experiences and community building.
Dr Schlatter, from New Zealand, said the model could be replicated to offer similar support for other cancers.
“Financially, it's typically high treatment costs and lack of insurance coverage for mental health care which create barriers to accessing psychological support,” she said. “The success of Brest Friends really shows the value of culturally sensitive, long-term community spaces that normalise emotional struggles and basically foster belonging.
“The model could be adapted or other cancers. There are women who joined many years ago who are still participating now and helping new women. Longer term survivors have a lot to teach the newly diagnosed, it's a really lovely model.”
Red flags
- Promises of high, fixed or 'guaranteed' returns.
- Unregulated structured products or complex investments often used to bypass traditional safeguards.
- Lack of clear information, vague language, no access to audited financials.
- Overseas companies targeting investors in other jurisdictions - this can make legal recovery difficult.
- Hard-selling tactics - creating urgency, offering 'exclusive' deals.
Courtesy: Carol Glynn, founder of Conscious Finance Coaching
The specs
Engine: 2.0-litre 4cyl turbo
Power: 261hp at 5,500rpm
Torque: 405Nm at 1,750-3,500rpm
Transmission: 9-speed auto
Fuel consumption: 6.9L/100km
On sale: Now
Price: From Dh117,059
Tips to keep your car cool
- Place a sun reflector in your windshield when not driving
- Park in shaded or covered areas
- Add tint to windows
- Wrap your car to change the exterior colour
- Pick light interiors - choose colours such as beige and cream for seats and dashboard furniture
- Avoid leather interiors as these absorb more heat
RESULTS
Dubai Kahayla Classic – Group 1 (PA) $750,000 (Dirt) 2,000m
Winner: Deryan, Ioritz Mendizabal (jockey), Didier Guillemin (trainer).
Godolphin Mile – Group 2 (TB) $750,000 (D) 1,600m
Winner: Secret Ambition, Tadhg O’Shea, Satish Seemar
Dubai Gold Cup – Group 2 (TB) $750,000 (Turf) 3,200m
Winner: Subjectivist, Joe Fanning, Mark Johnston
Al Quoz Sprint – Group 1 (TB) $1million (T) 1,200m
Winner: Extravagant Kid, Ryan Moore, Brendan Walsh
UAE Derby – Group 2 (TB) $750,000 (D) 1,900m
Winner: Rebel’s Romance, William Buick, Charlie Appleby
Dubai Golden Shaheen – Group 1 (TB) $1.5million (D) 1,200m
Winner: Zenden, Antonio Fresu, Carlos David
Dubai Turf – Group 1 (TB) $4million (T) 1,800m
Winner: Lord North, Frankie Dettori, John Gosden
Dubai Sheema Classic – Group 1 (TB) $5million (T) 2,410m
Winner: Mishriff, John Egan, John Gosden
World Cricket League Division 2
In Windhoek, Namibia - Top two teams qualify for the World Cup Qualifier in Zimbabwe, which starts on March 4.
UAE fixtures
Thursday, February 8 v Kenya; Friday, February 9 v Canada; Sunday, February 11 v Nepal; Monday, February 12 v Oman; Wednesday, February 14 v Namibia; Thursday, February 15 final
Killing of Qassem Suleimani
MATCH INFO
Juventus 1 (Dybala 45')
Lazio 3 (Alberto 16', Lulic 73', Cataldi 90 4')
Red card: Rodrigo Bentancur (Juventus)
How to help
Send “thenational” to the following numbers or call the hotline on: 0502955999
2289 – Dh10
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500 People from Gaza enter France
115 Special programme for artists
25 Evacuation of injured and sick
The view from The National
Third Test
Result: India won by 203 runs
Series: England lead five-match series 2-1
SPECS%3A%20Polestar%203
%3Cp%3E%3Cstrong%3EEngine%3A%20%3C%2Fstrong%3ELong-range%20dual%20motor%20with%20400V%20battery%3Cbr%3E%3Cstrong%3EPower%3A%20%3C%2Fstrong%3E360kW%20%2F%20483bhp%3Cbr%3E%3Cstrong%3ETorque%3A%20%3C%2Fstrong%3E840Nm%3Cbr%3E%3Cstrong%3ETransmission%3A%20%3C%2Fstrong%3ESingle-speed%20automatic%3Cbr%3E%3Cstrong%3EMax%20touring%20range%3A%3C%2Fstrong%3E%20628km%3Cbr%3E%3Cstrong%3E0-100km%2Fh%3A%3C%2Fstrong%3E%204.7sec%3Cbr%3E%3Cstrong%3ETop%20speed%3A%3C%2Fstrong%3E%20210kph%20%3Cbr%3E%3Cstrong%3EPrice%3A%20%3C%2Fstrong%3EFrom%20Dh360%2C000%3Cbr%3E%3Cstrong%3EOn%20sale%3A%20%3C%2Fstrong%3ESeptember%3Cbr%3E%3C%2Fp%3E%0A
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%3Cp%3E%E2%80%A2%20Agreements%20on%20energy%20and%20water%20supply%3C%2Fp%3E%0A%3Cp%3E%E2%80%A2%20Applied%20service%20fees%3C%2Fp%3E%0A%3Cp%3E%E2%80%A2%20Customer%20data%20and%20information%20privacy%3C%2Fp%3E%0A%3Cp%3E%E2%80%A2%20Prohibition%20of%20service%20disconnections%3C%2Fp%3E%0A%3Cp%3E%E2%80%A2%20Customer%20complaint%20process%3C%2Fp%3E%0A%3Cp%3E%E2%80%A2%20Management%20of%20debts%20and%20customers%20in%20default%3C%2Fp%3E%0A%3Cp%3E%E2%80%A2%20Services%20provided%20to%20people%20of%20determination%20and%20home%20care%20customers%3C%2Fp%3E%0A
UAE currency: the story behind the money in your pockets
Important questions to consider
1. Where on the plane does my pet travel?
There are different types of travel available for pets:
- Manifest cargo
- Excess luggage in the hold
- Excess luggage in the cabin
Each option is safe. The feasibility of each option is based on the size and breed of your pet, the airline they are traveling on and country they are travelling to.
2. What is the difference between my pet traveling as manifest cargo or as excess luggage?
If traveling as manifest cargo, your pet is traveling in the front hold of the plane and can travel with or without you being on the same plane. The cost of your pets travel is based on volumetric weight, in other words, the size of their travel crate.
If traveling as excess luggage, your pet will be in the rear hold of the plane and must be traveling under the ticket of a human passenger. The cost of your pets travel is based on the actual (combined) weight of your pet in their crate.
3. What happens when my pet arrives in the country they are traveling to?
As soon as the flight arrives, your pet will be taken from the plane straight to the airport terminal.
If your pet is traveling as excess luggage, they will taken to the oversized luggage area in the arrival hall. Once you clear passport control, you will be able to collect them at the same time as your normal luggage. As you exit the airport via the ‘something to declare’ customs channel you will be asked to present your pets travel paperwork to the customs official and / or the vet on duty.
If your pet is traveling as manifest cargo, they will be taken to the Animal Reception Centre. There, their documentation will be reviewed by the staff of the ARC to ensure all is in order. At the same time, relevant customs formalities will be completed by staff based at the arriving airport.
4. How long does the travel paperwork and other travel preparations take?
This depends entirely on the location that your pet is traveling to. Your pet relocation compnay will provide you with an accurate timeline of how long the relevant preparations will take and at what point in the process the various steps must be taken.
In some cases they can get your pet ‘travel ready’ in a few days. In others it can be up to six months or more.
5. What vaccinations does my pet need to travel?
Regardless of where your pet is traveling, they will need certain vaccinations. The exact vaccinations they need are entirely dependent on the location they are traveling to. The one vaccination that is mandatory for every country your pet may travel to is a rabies vaccination.
Other vaccinations may also be necessary. These will be advised to you as relevant. In every situation, it is essential to keep your vaccinations current and to not miss a due date, even by one day. To do so could severely hinder your pets travel plans.
Source: Pawsome Pets UAE
The Sand Castle
Director: Matty Brown
Stars: Nadine Labaki, Ziad Bakri, Zain Al Rafeea, Riman Al Rafeea
Rating: 2.5/5
Like a Fading Shadow
Antonio Muñoz Molina
Translated from the Spanish by Camilo A. Ramirez
Tuskar Rock Press (pp. 310)
The specs: 2017 Dodge Ram 1500 Laramie Longhorn
Price, base / as tested: Dhxxx
Engine: 5.7L V8
Transmission: Eight-speed automatic
Power: 395hp @ 5,600rpm
Torque: 556Nm @ 3,950rpm
Fuel economy, combined: 12.7L / 100km
Company%20Profile
%3Cp%3E%3Cstrong%3ECompany%20name%3A%3C%2Fstrong%3E%20myZoi%3Cbr%3E%3Cstrong%3EStarted%3A%3C%2Fstrong%3E%202021%3Cbr%3E%3Cstrong%3EFounders%3A%3C%2Fstrong%3E%20Syed%20Ali%2C%20Christian%20Buchholz%2C%20Shanawaz%20Rouf%2C%20Arsalan%20Siddiqui%2C%20Nabid%20Hassan%3Cbr%3E%3Cstrong%3EBased%3A%3C%2Fstrong%3E%20UAE%3Cbr%3E%3Cstrong%3ENumber%20of%20staff%3A%3C%2Fstrong%3E%2037%3Cbr%3E%3Cstrong%3EInvestment%3A%3C%2Fstrong%3E%20Initial%20undisclosed%20funding%20from%20SC%20Ventures%3B%20second%20round%20of%20funding%20totalling%20%2414%20million%20from%20a%20consortium%20of%20SBI%2C%20a%20Japanese%20VC%20firm%2C%20and%20SC%20Venture%3C%2Fp%3E%0A
More from Rashmee Roshan Lall
COMPANY PROFILE
Name: Akeed
Based: Muscat
Launch year: 2018
Number of employees: 40
Sector: Online food delivery
Funding: Raised $3.2m since inception
