Ministry of Health UAE cancer awareness seminar

Over 100 doctors from the Ministry of Health (MOH) attended a Continuous Medical Education Seminar (CME) held under the patronage H.E Dr. Mariam Matar, Assistant Undersecretary of Preventive Medicine in the Ministry of Health (MOH) for Public Health and Primary Health Care (PHC).

Saturday, April 28 - 2007

The aim of the session titled 'Screening for Female Health' took place this morning at Al Baraha Hospital to raise awareness of prevention and early detection of breast and cervical cancer - the two most common forms of cancer to affect women worldwide.

'The CME sessions conducted are crucial for updating the skills of the Primary Health Care (PHC) doctors;' says Dr. Mariam Matar, Assistant Undersecretary of Ministry of Health (MOH) 'The Public Health and PHC sector is developing central CME programs which include lectures, workshop and research training. This program will enhance and improve the quality of PHC services across the UAE.'

'This activity comes as part of the Ministry of Healths' ongoing efforts to update Primary Health Physicians on the latest oncological advances,' says Dr. Muna Al Kawari, Project Director for Women's Health in Public & Primary Health Care, Ministry of Health.

'Breast and cervical cancer are the leading causes of death in women around the world. Through these sessions, our doctors will encourage women in the UAE to implement regular screenings to prevent and detect cancer before it's too late.'

Breast cancer is the most common type of cancer among women worldwide. As many as eight to nine percent of women will develop breast cancer at some point during their lifetime and more than 1.2 million women will develop it this year.
As with most diseases, fear and lack of knowledge are major contributors to delayed detection of breast cancer.

'The fact is that although breast cancer may be life threatening, research has shown that early detection significantly increases the chances of survival,' explained Dr. Mona Sabelgi, Screening Coordinator, Central Ministry of Health Department, Abu Dhabi. 'I urge for all women over the age of forty in the UAE to have a mammography test.'

Cervical cancer is the second most common cancer and cause of death in women worldwide. In the UAE it is on the rise with reported cases tripling in 2005. Worldwide there are an estimated 650 deaths, which is the equivalent of 10 women in the Middle East dying every day.
'Cervical cancer is caused by a virus called the Human Papilloma Virus (HPV). This virus is very common and easily transmitted, but thankfully not all females infected with HPV will have cervical cancer,' says Dr. Saad Aswad, Consultant Gynaecologist Oncologist in Tawam Hospital, and Associate Professor of Gynaecology, at the UAE University.

'The virus once contracted, can survive for years and eventually converts some cells on the surface of the cervix into cancer cells. By killing the virus you eliminate the chance of contracting cervical cancer. Prevention of infection is imperative for all women; this can be done in two ways, regular pap screening tests and being vaccinated against it.'

These seminars on early detection and prevention of cancer highlight the Ministry of Health's commitment to encouraging women in the UAE to having regular screenings.

Diagnosis and Treatment for Cervical Cancer

The key to protecting yourself from cervical cancer is early diagnosis and treatment. When caught early, nearly all cervical cancers are treatable. And the surest way to catch cervical cancer early is to get regular pap tests, and HPV tests when recommended.
Learn more about pap testing
If you have abnormal pap test results

If your pap test shows abnormal cells, your doctor will discuss appropriate follow-up. In some cases, your doctor may simply recommend pap testing at more frequent intervals. In other cases, your doctor may suggest colposcopy, a procedure that enables the doctor to examine the cervix — the lower, narrow portion of the uterus that joins with the vaginal canal — under magnification. If necessary, a biopsy, in which a small tissue sample is taken, may be performed.
Learn more about what abnormal test results mean
Treating cervical cancer1

Cervical cancer is a highly treatable condition. The choice of treatment is a decision made between a woman and her doctor, considering a number of factors such as the stage of cancer and the desire for future pregnancy. The treatment options for cervical cancer include surgery, radiation, and chemotherapy, given alone or in combination.

Surgical treatments allow for the removal of precancerous or cancerous cells; common procedures include:

* LEEP — loop electrosurgical excision procedure (LEEP) uses electrical current passed through a thin loop-shaped wire to remove precancerous cells on the surface of the cervix.
* Conization — also called a cone biopsy, this procedure involves the removal of a cone-shaped piece of tissue from the cervix.
* Hysterectomy — is the removal of all or part of the uterus and cervix, and can be performed via an incision in the abdomen or the vagina.

Nonsurgical treatments can include:

* Radiation therapy — uses high-energy X-rays or other radiation to kill or prevent cancer cells from growing. It can be given either from the outside (much as you would receive an X-ray) or from the inside (using various kinds of radioactive seeds, wires, or catheters).
* Chemotherapy — uses one or more drugs to kill cancer cells or stop them from growing.

You can learn more about cervical cancer treatment options on the National Cancer Institute (NCI) website.

After treatment ends, it is important to follow up with routine checkups and pap tests to ensure that the cancer doesn’t return. This is especially true for the first few years after treatment.


Reference

1. American College of Obstetricians and Gynecologists Pamphlet. Cancer of the Cervix. Washington DC; 2004.
Confused by Your Pap Test Results?

Learn more about the language commonly used to describe pap test results.
What Does an Abnormal Pap Test Result Mean?

Find out how abnormal pap test results may affect your health.

Princess opens new women’s clinic

April 14. 2009 8:30AM UAE / April 14. 2009 4:30AM GMT
DUBAI // A major gynaecology centre was opened yesterday as doctors said women were finally catching on to the need for cervical cancer screening and vaccination.

The Dubai Gynaecology and Fertility Centre was officially opened by Princess Haya bint Al Hussein, wife of Sheikh Mohammed bin Rashid, Vice President of the UAE and Ruler of Dubai.

There has been recent attention on cervical cancer after the British reality television star Jade Goody died of the disease aged 27.

Her death last month made headlines around the world.

Dr Awatif al Bahar, consultant obstetrician and gynaecologist at the new centre, said at the opening ceremony: “Cervical cancer is increasing here but so is awareness at a social level.

“We have been doing repeated lectures for women, being very honest with them about this cancer. This has made more women come forward to screening and vaccinations.

“Things are definitely improving and we, as doctors, are always pushing women to take care of themselves.”

The clinic, which has relocated from near Rashid Hospital because of increased demand, is one of the leading centres in the Gulf for infertility treatments.

“We discuss what they should do if they are sexually active and encourage all women to be screened,” Dr al Bahar said. “Women here want a better quality of life. That does not mean having nice dresses and perfumes, it means being healthy.”

Cervical cancer is the second most common cancer affecting women in the UAE and 70 per cent of cases are diagnosed in the late stages.

Vaccines against the human papillomavirus (HPV), which causes the cancer, have been approved by all health authorities in the Emirates and uptake has improved dramatically in recent years.

Dr Sabina Aidarous, a family medicine specialist at the Imperial Healthcare Institute in Dubai Healthcare City, said that over the past three years there had been an increase of up to 70 per cent in women having “well woman” check-ups, which include cervical cancer and breast cancer screening.

There had also been an increase of 20-30 per cent of women having the HPV vaccine since last year.

“Although women in general are becoming a lot more aware, there are still some who are less educated about what they need to do,” she said. “We hope in the future to reach a stage where vaccines against cervical cancer is routine.”

One of the main stumbling blocks in the region is the cancer’s connection to sexual activity.

Dr Aidarous said most people now realised that HPV was sexually transmitted, making it a “contentious issue in this part of the world”.

“It will take time and a lot of campaigning and awareness. But the situation is certainly getting better.

“Younger women are more clued up but it is the older generation who are less so. There are women in their 50s who have never had a smear test because they think they are low risk.”

She also explained that a common misconception about cervical cancer was that having just one monogamous relationship left little to no chance of developing it.

“Being married to one partner doesn’t mean you are exempt from this,” she said. “For a long time there was nobody who would talk about cervical cancer, but now this is totally changing.”

Dr Aidarous is set to launch a campaign with GlaxoSmithKline, the maker of the HPV vaccine Cervarix.

This campaign will be one of the a number to raise awareness of the disease, which the World Health Organisation estimates kills around 250,000 women a year worldwide.

In July, the Ministry of Health launched the Emirates Cervicare Network (ECN) to encourage women of all ages to go for an annual Pap smear test and young girls to be vaccinated against the virus.

Earlier this year the ECN and the Dubai Roads and Transport Authority organised a bus offering advice about cervical cancer to tour Dubai for two weeks.

Last week the Health Authority – Abu Dhabi said its HPV vaccination campaign for teenagers had seen a 70 per cent uptake in 2008. The programme will now be made permanent.

“If someone has an early marriage, maybe 17, 18 or 19 years old” Dr al Bahar said, “and does not come in for a women’s health check-up until they are 30, they have already been sexually active for a long time.

“Women are definitely learning, it will just take time.”

Cervical cancer is often referred to as a “silent killer”, as it grows slowly over many years and is largely without symptoms.

Without regular screening it may not be detected until the later stages. Official figures show women have a one in three chance of surviving.

Tawam Hospital in Al Ain is currently devising an executive health programme with an emphasis on preventative medicine.

Dr Halah Ibrahim, consultant in internal medicine, said one of the aims is to try and encourage women to overcome any reluctance they might have about health issues considered taboo. We have already been doing a lot of education in the community about the importance of screening. Cervical cancer is so common here there has to be a push to do more Pap smears.”