Breast Cancer screening in Dubai

Breast Cancer screening involves checking a woman’s breasts for cancer before there are signs or symptoms of the disease. Screening and Detection is important because, usually, the earlier the breast cancer is detected, before it is big enough to cause symptoms, the easier it is to treat.

Breast cancer is caused by damage to a cell’s DNA and there are a certain risk factors that put individuals are higher risk of developing it. These include:

• Getting older: the risk for breast cancer increases with age; most breast cancers are diagnosed after age 50
• Genetic mutations and inherited changes (mutations) to certain genes, such as BRCA1 and BRCA2
• Early menstrual period
• Late or no pregnancy
• Starting menopause after age 55
• Not being physically active
• Being overweight or obese after menopause
• Having dense breasts
• Using combination hormone therapy
• Taking oral contraceptives (birth control pills)
• Personal history of breast cancer
• Personal history of certain non-cancerous breast diseases
• Family history of breast cancer
• Previous treatment using radiation therapy
• Women who took the drug diethylstilbestrol (DES)
• Drinking alcohol

If you have a family history of breast cancer or inherited changes in your BRCA1 and BRCA2 genes you may be at higher risk for developing breast cancer. If so, it is even more important to get regular breast screenings done.

Screenings should be done every 2 years, from age of 40 to 74.

Screenings are performed by having either a mammogram , breast magnetic resonance imaging (MRI), or breast ultrasound done.

A mammogram is an X-ray of the breast. Mammograms are the best way to find breast cancer early, when it is easier to treat. Mammograms can’t prove that an abnormal area is cancer, but they can help health care providers decide whether more testing is needed.