What is Breast Cancer?
Breast cancer happens when cells in the breast grow out of control. Both women and men can get breast cancer, but it is far more common in women.
Knowing the facts can help you detect it early. With regular checkups, breast cancer can be detected in its early stages, which enhances the chances of successful treatment and reduces mortality.
Who should get checked?
Age group 20-39 years
From 20 years: Self-examination every month
Clinical breast exam every 3 yearsAge group 40-75 years
From 20 years: Continue self-examination every month
Mammogram every 2 years
Risk Factors
Some risk factors cannot be changed, while others can be influenced by lifestyle choices:
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Risk Factors You Cannot Change |
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Risk Factors You Can Reduce or Influence |
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What to Look Out For
Lump in the breast or underarm
Change in breast size, shape, or skin
Nipple changes (turning inward, unusual discharge, or pain)
Redness, dimpling, or swelling
Note: Most changes are not cancer, but only a doctor can confirm.
Call your nearest healthcare provider for a breast cancer screening
How You Can Lower Your Risk
Additional FAQs
Worried About Mammograms?
Purpose:
Low-dose X-rays that create clear images to help detect breast cancer early.
Brief Discomfort:
Compression lasts only a few seconds to spread breast tissue for sharper image quality.
Modern Safety:
Modern machines are engineered to use the lowest possible radiation while maintaining high image quality.
(The radiation exposure from a typical mammogram (0.4 mSv) is roughly equal to what you naturally absorb from daily life in just 1–2 months.)
Frequency:
Women at higher risk may be advised to get screened more frequently than those at average risk.
Breast Composition and Function
Breast tissue is made up of fat, connective tissue, and a complex network of lobules, lobes, and ducts. Its main function is breastfeeding. The breast undergoes many changes during a woman's life as a result of hormonal changes, and most of these changes are benign.
What is Breast Cancer?
A type of cancer that starts in the breast. It occurs as a result of the division and growth of abnormal cells in the breast continuously out of control, leading to the formation of tumors. There are different types of breast cancer depending on the cells that have turned into a tumor.
Breast cancer can spread inside the body to other organs and areas.
Factors that increase the risk of breast cancer
- Aging
- A personal or family history of breast or ovarian cancer.
- Presence of inherited genetic mutations relevant to breast cancer: BRCA1, BRCA2
- High density in the breast.
- Previous biopsy indicates the presence of quantitative inflation or cancer at the site.
- Not having children or having children after the age of 35.
- No reliance on feeding/breastfeeding.
- Current or recent use of hormone replacements.
- Long-term use of the pill.
- Unhealthy lifestyle: lack of physical activity, smoking, alcohol consumption, obesity or overweight, unhealthy diet.
Globally 2022
- Breast cancer is the most common cancer among women around the world, and the leading cause of cancer deaths among them.
- By 2022, 2.3 million women had been diagnosed with breast cancer, and 666,000 women had died from the same disease.
- About 99% of breast cancer cases occur in women, while only 0.5%-1% of cases occur in men.
- Every 15 seconds, a woman is diagnosed with breast cancer, and every 50 seconds a woman in the world dies from the disease.
Emirate of Abu Dhabi 2023
- It is the most diagnosed and widespread cancer in Abu Dhabi, and it is the fourth leading cause of cancer deaths in the emirate.
- It mainly affects women, with women accounting for 99% of cases while males account for only 1% of cases.
Symptoms and Warning Signs of Breast Cancer
Most people don't have any symptoms in the early stages of cancer, and they usually appear when the disease is in its advanced stages.
Symptoms of Breast Cancer Include:
- A lump or thickening in the breast, often without pain.
- A change in the size, shape, or appearance of the breast.
- Burning, redness, or other changes in the skin.
- A change in the appearance of the nipple or the skin around the nipple (areola).
- Abnormal or bloody fluid coming out of the nipple.
Breast Cancer Prevention
Ways to reduce the risk:
- Breastfeeding
- Avoiding hormones as much as possible
- Maintaining a healthy lifestyle
- Regular check-ups
Routine Screening for Early Detection of Breast Cancer
1. Breast Self-Examination:
- Perform a self-examination regularly every month, starting at age 20, approximately 6 to 10 days after the start of the menstrual cycle.
2. Clinical Examination:
- Annually for women aged 40 and older.
- Once every 3 years for women aged 20 and older.
3. Breast X-ray (Mammogram):
- Screening is recommended every two years for women aged 40 and older.
To download awareness materials
Download helpful resources to learn more about breast cancer and self-checking.