What Is Cancer Screening?
Cancer Screening means checking your body for cancer before you experience any symptoms. This pre-emptive technique enables the early detection of the disease, particularly in the cases of breast, cervical and colorectal cancers when treatment is likely to work best.
According to the UAE’s Ministry of Health and Prevention, all UAE residents with valid residency visas and health insurance must undergo one and/or of the following screening tests as per The National Guidelines for Cancer Screening and Diagnosis. Check-out the list of the most common cancers and their accompanying sign and symptoms here.
BREAST CANCER SCREENING
As per the UAE National Breast Cancer Screening Recommendation, women residing in the UAE are grouped into two risk categories; Average Risk and High Risk. A woman is considered at High Risk of developing breast cancer if she has one or more of the following criteria:
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Previous treatment with chest radiation before the age of 30
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Previous history of Breast Cancer
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Strong family history or genetic predisposition*
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Lobular Carcinoma in situ (LCIS) or Atypical Ductal Hyperplasia (ADH) or Atypical Lobular Hyperplasia (ALH) on previous breast biopsy
Average Risk women are advised the following screening tests:
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Breast Awareness and regular Self Examination
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Clinical Breast Examination every year
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Mammography Screening every two years
High Risk women are advised the following screening tests:
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Breast Awareness and regular Self Examination
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Clinical Breast Examination every 6 months
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Mammography Screening every year (if over 30-years-old)
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MRI Screening every year*
*Laboratory test results to determine
COLORECTAL CANCER SCREENING
As per the UAE National Colorectal Cancer Screening Recommendation, all men and women over 40-years-old residing in the UAE are advised to have a Fecal Immunochemical Test (FIT) every 2 years. You will be provided with a stool sample kit in which you will find specific instructions that you must follow. The laboratory will process and test for hidden blood in your stool sample.
If the sample test proves to be positive, you will be urgently referred for follow-up colonoscopy.