Picture for illustrative purposes only. ARCHIVE

Breast cancer is now the leading type of cancer in the UAE, a breast cancer specialist in Dubai told Expatmedia.net. “Statistics have shown that in 2020, there was an increase of 21.4 percent in incidents of breast cancer,” Dr. Taghreed Almahmeed told Expatmedia.net at a recent Pinktober event at Le Meridien Fairway. Watch it here: According to the World Cancer Research Fund International (WCRF), breast cancer is also the leading type of cancer worldwide, with more than 2.26 million people diagnosed in 2020 alone. Dr. Almahmeed said 10 percent to 15 percent of breast cancer cases are genetic. This means that women with a family history of breast cancer can be at risk. However, a big percentage of people may also increase their risk of getting breast cancer due to their lifestyle. “While we do not know exactly what causes breast cancer, we have an idea that people who have an unhealthy lifestyle, do not exercise are more predisposed to having breast cancer,” Dr. Almahmeed told Expatmedia.net. The expert also pointed at other factors such as obesity and stress. “Obesity increases your estrogen levels, which also increases your risk of breast cancer. Stress decreases your immunity, which makes you susceptible to breast cancer,” she said. The expert also said that smoking and drinking alcohol increases one’s risk of getting breast cancer, along with taking hormone replacement therapy. “Eating fast food or highly processed food also increases your risk of getting breast cancer,” Dr. Almahmeed said, advising people to “eat more healthy food, like fruits, vegetables and legumes. She urged women to go for regular breast cancer screening. “If you are 40 and above, please go in an get a screening with a mammogram, because it can pick up breast cancer when it’s really early,” she said. “If you are below the age of 40, you can go for an ultrasound.

Breast cancer signs to look out for

Dr. Almahmeed said women can also do self-screening. Potential signs of breast cancer include: “A lump in your breast, a lump in your armpit, increased breast size, swelling, redness, nipple discharge, nipple going inwards, breasts having an orange skin peel appearance,” she said. ICA/Expat Media
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