Enter Your Email Address to Receive a
Copy of MedicExhange Member Demograhpics

Genetic testing may soon be part of the UAE’s national breast cancer screening programme, officials say social acceptance of the disease and the ensuing treatment methods.

Officials are currently battling budgetary deficits and social acceptance of the method ahead of its planned inclusion into the national programme that was set up in 1999. Free testing will be done on only those with a family or past history of breast cancer. However, officials say social acceptance of the disease and the ensuing treatment methods, including mastectomy may deter women from opting for genetic testing.

In the UAE, breast cancer tops the list followed by colon, leukaemia, lymphomas and thyroid.

“Genetic testing is already being done for other hereditary diseases such as thalassemia and sickle cell anaemia,” said Dr Mona Al Sebelgy, Coordinator for the National Breast Cancer Programme in Sharjah for Planning and Evaluation.

Though resources such as equipped laboratories exist, there remains a shortage of manpower. “Knowing that you have cancer can affect people differently. Psychiatric counselors can help women overcome the stress they may be undergoing,” she said.

While the government facilities are still contemplating the inclusion of the testing in the national programme, private facilities are already offering it.

“This region is not quite ready for the predictive way yet,” said Dr Sanjida Ahmed, Director for Research at Dubai-based Eastern Biotech that carries out several other tests.

Source: Arab Health

You can discuss more about radiology in the middle east and related topics in our Radiology in the Middle East Group.