Dubai, United Arab Emirates, June 03, 2015: After breast cancer, cervical and ovarian cancers are the most prevalent cancers amongst women in UAE accounting for significant fatality. If detected in the early stages and correctly treated, it is possible to prevent progression and cure the diseases. However, in its early stages, both cancers hardly produce any recognizable symptoms. To generate awareness on the diseases and encourage women to proactively undertake screening tests, Dr. Mohanad Diab- Consultant Medical Oncologist at NMC Specialty Hospital, Abu Dhabi and Mohamed Samir- Medical Director at Roche UAE; share information on the risk factors that women need to know about.
“As the early stage symptoms are difficult to detect, we often witness a delay in diagnosis of the disease, with patients coming to us, when the cancer has progressed to an advanced stage. With awareness on the risk factors which can trigger the disease and proactively taking measures for prevention and early detection, it is possible to save more lives,” said Dr. Mohanad Diab.
He highlights the following as factors for women to undertake detection tests for women:
Cervical Cancer:
- Infection by the human papilloma virus (HPV)2
- Weak Immune system2
- Smoking2
- Family history of cervical cancer2
- Long-term use of birth- control pills2
- Regular screening recommended for women in the age-group of 21-653
Ovarian Cancer: 4
- Age- Women in the age group of 50-60 years
- Never being pregnant
- Fertility treatment
- Smoking
- Polycystic ovary syndrome
- Inherited gene mutation: BRCA1 and BRCA2
“It has been a decade since the last major advancements in treatment options for patients with cervical or ovarian cancer that has spread, or recurred after initial treatment. The recent approvals address a significant unmet medical need in women with advanced cervical or ovarian cancer and provide patients with an opportunity to receive new treatment options that will potentially prolong their survival.” said Mohamed Samir, Medical Director, Roche UAE.
Cervical cancer is a type of cancer that occurs in the cells of the cervix — the lower part of the uterus. Signs and symptoms demonstrated at a late stage are: vaginal bleeding after intercourse, between periods or after menopause; watery, bloody discharge that may be heavy and have a foul odor; pelvic pain or pain during intercourse.5
Ovarian cancer begins in the tissues of the ovary and often goes undetected until it has spread within the pelvis and abdomen: Abdominal bloating or swelling; quickly feeling full when eating, weight loss; discomfort in the pelvis area; changes in bowel habits, such as constipation; and a frequent need to urinate.4
About Dr. Mohanad Diab – Consultant Medical Oncologist, NMC Specialty Hospital, Abu Dhabi
Dr. Mohanad Diab is a Consultant Medical Oncologist at NMC Specialty Hospital, a role which he has held since May 2014. Dr. Diab graduated from Stockholm Karolinska Medical University in Sweden and received his degree in Medical Oncology from Gothenburg University.
He is certified in bone marrow and stem cell transplantation from Karolinska Hospital in Stockholm and has previously worked in Sweden, Norway, and Denmark as a consultant medical Oncologist.
After joining NMC Specialty Hospital in Abu Dhabi, Dr. Diab spearheaded the establishment of their Oncology Clinic, which will be soon expanding to Dubai.
About Roche:
Headquartered in Basel, Switzerland, Roche is a leader in research-focused healthcare with combined strengths in pharmaceuticals and diagnostics. Roche is the world’s largest biotech company, with truly differentiated medicines in oncology, immunology, infectious diseases, ophthalmology and neuroscience. Roche is also the world leader in vitro diagnostics and tissue-based cancer diagnostics, and a frontrunner in diabetes management. Roche’s personalized healthcare strategy aims at providing medicines and diagnostics that enable tangible improvements in the health, quality of life and survival of patients. Founded in 1896, Roche has been making important contributions to global health for more than a century. Twenty-four medicines developed by Roche are included in the World Health Organization Model Lists of Essential Medicines, among them life-saving antibiotics, anti-malarials and chemotherapy.
In 2014, the Roche Group employed 88,500 people worldwide, invested 8.9 billion Swiss francs in R&D and posted sales of 47.5 billion Swiss francs. Genentech, in the United States, is a wholly owned member of the Roche Group. Roche is the majority shareholder in Chugai Pharmaceutical, Japan. For more information, please visit www.roche-middleeast.com.
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References:
- IARC and WHO’s Globocan Report 2012. http://globocan.iarc.fr/Pages/fact_sheets_population.aspx
- American Cancer Society- Cervical Cancer Prevention and Early Detection http://www.cancer.org/cancer/cervicalcancer/moreinformation/cervicalcancerpreventionandearlydetection/cervical-cancer-prevention-and-early-detection-cervical-cancer-risk-factors
- Center for Disease Control and Prevention. http://www.cdc.gov/cancer/dcpc/resources/features/cervicalcancer/
- Mayo Clinic- Ovarian Cancer. http://www.mayoclinic.org/diseases-conditions/ovarian-cancer/basics/symptoms/con-20028096
- Mayo Clinic- Cervical Cancer. http://www.mayoclinic.org/diseases-conditions/cervical-cancer/basics/symptoms/con-20030522
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