Three cancer survivors from the UAE have come together to deliver a message of hope to people around the world trying to cope with the deadly disease.
The determined women have endured great struggles and painful losses on the road to recovery, but have managed to triumph over adversity.
Nesreen Hassan and Fadwa Hussein, who live in Ajman, and Dalal Abu Hammam, from Sharjah, told the National that they are loud and proud about saying "no" to cancer.
On World Cancer Day, the women said: "No to ignorance about cancer, no to denial and turning a blind eye to symptoms and no to losing hope."
Keeping the faith
Ms Hassan, 49, originally from Gaza, had her life turned upside down by personal tragedy, as if the cancer diagnosis was not enough.
She said it felt very much like the adage, "when it rains, it pours”.
When she first felt a lump in her breast in mid 2017, she was already caring for her cancer-stricken father and worrying about the stability of her husband’s job.
“I went to a doctor who told me I was fine and not to worry,” she said.
The challenges at home did not abate, however, and another storm was approaching.
A few months later her father died, her husband lost his job, and she was told she did indeed have cancer.
“There were moments that I was completely devastated, but my faith pulled me back up on my feet,” she said.
Because the lump was very small, the mother of three did not need chemotherapy.
She had surgery to remove the growth, but then her medical insurance expired.
She approached the Friends of Cancer Patients Society, based in Sharjah, which covered the costs of her radiotherapy and the rest of her treatment.
But her misfortune did not end there .
In 2021 her husband, who was still unemployed, died after contracting coronavirus.
“I lived a lavish life before and in a moment I found that I was living off charity. I was shaken, but not broken.”
Ms Hassan refused to be beaten and set about rebuilding her life.
“I began offering homemade food for sale and now I have the SaltySweety Instagram page to market my products.”
The generosity of others throughout her ordeal helped to strengthen her resolve.
“The support I received from people after my husband’s death was astonishing,” she said.
Reflecting on her experience, she said she wished she had educated herself more about the disease.
“Had I known the difference between cancer types, I wouldn’t have been devastated the way I was when I first heard I had grade 1 breast cancer,” she said.
Fear of leaving children behind
Fadwa Hussein, 41, immediately thought of her children when she found out she had cancer,
The Sudanese mother of two spotted a lump while changing her clothes in 2016.
“I went into the nurses’ office when I received the news and broke down in tears thinking about what will happen to my small kids if I die,” she said.
Ms Hussein had to have her breasts and uterus removed.
She says the physical effects of the surgery was immense, but the mental toll was even greater, albeit not for long.
“I was surrounded by strong support from my family. They cooked for me, took care of my kids, and listened to me when I needed to vent.”
After she met other cancer patients, including children at Tawam hospital, she began to cheer up other patients, not knowing she was lifting her own spirits in the process.
Genetic screening showed that she had a significantly elevated risk of developing breast and uterus cancer, so surgeons performed a double mastectomy and removed her uterus.
“We can’t and should not lose hope when we are living an experience that is part of God’s plan for us.”
Creeping cancer concerns
Dalal Abu Hammam was told she was being paranoid when her own concerns about having cancer increased after the diagnosis of a friend.
“For many months and after visiting three doctors, I was told there was nothing and I was fine,” said Ms Hammam, who is from Jordan.
A series of ultrasound scans and tests over three months found no sign of the disease, until her deepest fears were realised.
“When it was finally detected in 2017, I would wake up at night to find my husband crying,” she said.
Ms Hammam said she had always been a strong person and was determined to face this challenge head on.
With a strong support system of husband, family and friends who were there for her every step of the way, she underwent a course of chemotherapy sessions.
“When my hair fell out, my son, who was nine then, couldn’t accept to see me bald and asked me to cover my head with a scarf, which I did.”
After 20 chemotherapy sessions, the miracle happened and the mass had entirely disappeared. She did not need radiotherapy but surgery was advised to clear the infected area.
“They removed small cysts that were found around the mass when It was first detected just as a precautionary measure.”
What are the next steps in cancer treatment?
Humaid Al Shamsi, director of oncology services at Burjeel Medical City in Abu Dhabi, emphasised that catching the disease early is of paramount importance.
“This is the only way we can reduce deaths from this disease ― early screening and early detection,” Prof Al Shamsi said.
Cancer was the leading cause of deaths worldwide in 2020, according to the World Health Organisation's most recent data, with close to 10 million losing their lives to the disease.
Statistics reveal that the most common forms of the disease are breast, lung, colon and rectum, and prostate cancers.
“The next phase of cancer care should focus on quality control measures implemented by regulators across the UAE. A federal cancer agency is recommended, as cancer care requires a specialised governor," Prof Al Shamsi said.
“ A national UAE cancer control programme is much needed to improve early detection, screening, and appropriate referrals to cancer networks,” he said in a study called “The State of Cancer”.
Muhammad Khanani, division chief of haematology and oncology at Tawam hospital, said that for survival rates to improve further, early detection and referral was crucial.
“If a child suffers from symptoms such as prolonged headaches or severe back pain, then seek help immediately,” Dr Khanani said.
Killing of Qassem Suleimani
Haircare resolutions 2021
From Beirut and Amman to London and now Dubai, hairstylist George Massoud has seen the same mistakes made by customers all over the world. In the chair or at-home hair care, here are the resolutions he wishes his customers would make for the year ahead.
1. 'I will seek consultation from professionals'
You may know what you want, but are you sure it’s going to suit you? Haircare professionals can tell you what will work best with your skin tone, hair texture and lifestyle.
2. 'I will tell my hairdresser when I’m not happy'
Massoud says it’s better to offer constructive criticism to work on in the future. Your hairdresser will learn, and you may discover how to communicate exactly what you want more effectively the next time.
3. ‘I will treat my hair better out of the chair’
Damage control is a big part of most hairstylists’ work right now, but it can be avoided. Steer clear of over-colouring at home, try and pursue one hair brand at a time and never, ever use a straightener on still drying hair, pleads Massoud.
Diriyah%20project%20at%20a%20glance
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THREE
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Types of bank fraud
1) Phishing
Fraudsters send an unsolicited email that appears to be from a financial institution or online retailer. The hoax email requests that you provide sensitive information, often by clicking on to a link leading to a fake website.
2) Smishing
The SMS equivalent of phishing. Fraudsters falsify the telephone number through “text spoofing,” so that it appears to be a genuine text from the bank.
3) Vishing
The telephone equivalent of phishing and smishing. Fraudsters may pose as bank staff, police or government officials. They may persuade the consumer to transfer money or divulge personal information.
4) SIM swap
Fraudsters duplicate the SIM of your mobile number without your knowledge or authorisation, allowing them to conduct financial transactions with your bank.
5) Identity theft
Someone illegally obtains your confidential information, through various ways, such as theft of your wallet, bank and utility bill statements, computer intrusion and social networks.
6) Prize scams
Fraudsters claiming to be authorised representatives from well-known organisations (such as Etisalat, du, Dubai Shopping Festival, Expo2020, Lulu Hypermarket etc) contact victims to tell them they have won a cash prize and request them to share confidential banking details to transfer the prize money.
Brief scoreline:
Liverpool 2
Mane 51', Salah 53'
Chelsea 0
Man of the Match: Mohamed Salah (Liverpool)
Most sought after workplace benefits in the UAE
- Flexible work arrangements
- Pension support
- Mental well-being assistance
- Insurance coverage for optical, dental, alternative medicine, cancer screening
- Financial well-being incentives
UPI facts
More than 2.2 million Indian tourists arrived in UAE in 2023
More than 3.5 million Indians reside in UAE
Indian tourists can make purchases in UAE using rupee accounts in India through QR-code-based UPI real-time payment systems
Indian residents in UAE can use their non-resident NRO and NRE accounts held in Indian banks linked to a UAE mobile number for UPI transactions
The design
The protective shell is covered in solar panels to make use of light and produce energy. This will drastically reduce energy loss.
More than 80 per cent of the energy consumed by the French pavilion will be produced by the sun.
The architecture will control light sources to provide a highly insulated and airtight building.
The forecourt is protected from the sun and the plants will refresh the inner spaces.
A micro water treatment plant will recycle used water to supply the irrigation for the plants and to flush the toilets. This will reduce the pavilion’s need for fresh water by 30 per cent.
Energy-saving equipment will be used for all lighting and projections.
Beyond its use for the expo, the pavilion will be easy to dismantle and reuse the material.
Some elements of the metal frame can be prefabricated in a factory.
From architects to sound technicians and construction companies, a group of experts from 10 companies have created the pavilion.
Work will begin in May; the first stone will be laid in Dubai in the second quarter of 2019.
Construction of the pavilion will take 17 months from May 2019 to September 2020.
What can victims do?
Always use only regulated platforms
Stop all transactions and communication on suspicion
Save all evidence (screenshots, chat logs, transaction IDs)
Report to local authorities
Warn others to prevent further harm
Courtesy: Crystal Intelligence
What is graphene?
Graphene is a single layer of carbon atoms arranged like honeycomb.
It was discovered in 2004, when Russian-born Manchester scientists Andrei Geim and Kostya Novoselov were "playing about" with sticky tape and graphite - the material used as "lead" in pencils.
Placing the tape on the graphite and peeling it, they managed to rip off thin flakes of carbon. In the beginning they got flakes consisting of many layers of graphene. But as they repeated the process many times, the flakes got thinner.
By separating the graphite fragments repeatedly, they managed to create flakes that were just one atom thick. Their experiment had led to graphene being isolated for the very first time.
At the time, many believed it was impossible for such thin crystalline materials to be stable. But examined under a microscope, the material remained stable, and when tested was found to have incredible properties.
It is many times times stronger than steel, yet incredibly lightweight and flexible. It is electrically and thermally conductive but also transparent. The world's first 2D material, it is one million times thinner than the diameter of a single human hair.
But the 'sticky tape' method would not work on an industrial scale. Since then, scientists have been working on manufacturing graphene, to make use of its incredible properties.
In 2010, Geim and Novoselov were awarded the Nobel Prize for Physics. Their discovery meant physicists could study a new class of two-dimensional materials with unique properties.
In numbers
- Number of children under five will fall from 681 million in 2017 to 401m in 2100
- Over-80s will rise from 141m in 2017 to 866m in 2100
- Nigeria will become the world’s second most populous country with 791m by 2100, behind India
- China will fall dramatically from a peak of 2.4 billion in 2024 to 732 million by 2100
- an average of 2.1 children per woman is required to sustain population growth
The National's picks
4.35pm: Tilal Al Khalediah
5.10pm: Continous
5.45pm: Raging Torrent
6.20pm: West Acre
7pm: Flood Zone
7.40pm: Straight No Chaser
8.15pm: Romantic Warrior
8.50pm: Calandogan
9.30pm: Forever Young
The%20specs
%3Cp%3E%3Cstrong%3EEngine%3A%3C%2Fstrong%3E%20Dual%20synchronous%20electric%20motors%0D%3Cbr%3E%3Cstrong%3EPower%3A%20%3C%2Fstrong%3E660hp%0D%3Cbr%3E%3Cstrong%3ETorque%3A%20%3C%2Fstrong%3E1%2C100Nm%0D%3Cbr%3E%3Cstrong%3ETransmission%3A%20%3C%2Fstrong%3ESingle-speed%20automatic%0D%3Cbr%3E%3Cstrong%3ETouring%20range%3A%20%3C%2Fstrong%3E488km-560km%0D%3Cbr%3E%3Cstrong%3EPrice%3A%20%3C%2Fstrong%3EFrom%20Dh850%2C000%20(estimate)%0D%3Cbr%3E%3Cstrong%3EOn%20sale%3A%20%3C%2Fstrong%3EOctober%3C%2Fp%3E%0A
Sheer grandeur
The Owo building is 14 storeys high, seven of which are below ground, with the 30,000 square feet of amenities located subterranean, including a 16-seat private cinema, seven lounges, a gym, games room, treatment suites and bicycle storage.
A clear distinction between the residences and the Raffles hotel with the amenities operated separately.
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%3Cp%3E%3Cstrong%3EEngine%3A%20%3C%2Fstrong%3E2.0-litre%204cyl%20turbo%0D%3Cbr%3E%3Cstrong%3EPower%3A%20%3C%2Fstrong%3E261hp%20at%205%2C500rpm%0D%3Cbr%3E%3Cstrong%3ETorque%3A%20%3C%2Fstrong%3E400Nm%20at%201%2C750-4%2C000rpm%0D%3Cbr%3E%3Cstrong%3ETransmission%3A%20%3C%2Fstrong%3E7-speed%20dual-clutch%20auto%0D%3Cbr%3E%3Cstrong%3EFuel%20consumption%3A%20%3C%2Fstrong%3E10.5L%2F100km%0D%3Cbr%3E%3Cstrong%3EOn%20sale%3A%20%3C%2Fstrong%3ENow%0D%3Cbr%3E%3Cstrong%3EPrice%3A%20%3C%2Fstrong%3EFrom%20Dh129%2C999%20(VX%20Luxury)%3B%20from%20Dh149%2C999%20(VX%20Black%20Gold)%3C%2Fp%3E%0A
TALE OF THE TAPE
Manny Pacquiao
Record: 59-6-2 (38 KOs)
Age: 38
Weight: 146lbs
Height: 166cm
Reach: 170cm
Jeff Horn
Record: 16-0-1 (11 KOs)
Age: 29
Weight: 146.2lbs
Height: 175cm
Reach: 173cm
The specs
Engine: 4.0-litre flat-six
Torque: 450Nm at 6,100rpm
Transmission: 7-speed PDK auto or 6-speed manual
Fuel economy, combined: 13.8L/100km
On sale: Available to order now
Company Profile:
Name: The Protein Bakeshop
Date of start: 2013
Founders: Rashi Chowdhary and Saad Umerani
Based: Dubai
Size, number of employees: 12
Funding/investors: $400,000 (2018)
White hydrogen: Naturally occurring hydrogen
Chromite: Hard, metallic mineral containing iron oxide and chromium oxide
Ultramafic rocks: Dark-coloured rocks rich in magnesium or iron with very low silica content
Ophiolite: A section of the earth’s crust, which is oceanic in nature that has since been uplifted and exposed on land
Olivine: A commonly occurring magnesium iron silicate mineral that derives its name for its olive-green yellow-green colour
