The Impact of Cancer on United Arab Emirates

Cancer is the third leading cause of death in the UAE, according to the second annual statistical report of the UAE National Cancer Registry. The first two causes of death in the country are circulatory system diseases and injuries.

There were 4,700 new cases of cancer in UAE in 2018 with breast cancer accounting for 1,054 (22.4%). There were 662 cases of colorectal cancers, 360 of thyroid, 252 prostate, 238 of leukemia and 2,141 of other cancers. According to the World Health Organization WHO), the number of cancer cases is expected to double in the UAE by 2030.

Cancer is the third leading cause of death in the UAE, according to the second annual statistical report of the UAE National Cancer Registry. The first two causes of death in the country are circulatory system diseases and injuries.

There were 4,700 new cases of cancer in UAE in 2018 with breast cancer accounting for 1,054 (22.4%). There were 662 cases of colorectal cancers, 360 of thyroid, 252 prostate, 238 of leukemia and 2,141 of other cancers. According to the World Health Organization WHO), the number of cancer cases is expected to double in the UAE by 2030.

In the UAE, colorectum cancer topped the list at 437 cases in 2018 in men followed by prostate at 252, leukaemia at 151, bladder at 146 and lung at 145.

In females, the highest number of cases was breast cancer with 1,054 cases followed by thyroid at 279, colorectum at 225, uterus at 187 and cervix at 108.

The increasing cancer burden is due to a number of different factors, including population growth and an ageing population as well as the changing prevalence of certain causes of cancer linked to social and economic development.

According to the WHO, 9 out of 22 countries in the region have no operational facilities to deal with cancer, only 13 countries have any kind of operational registries, 2 have a minimal strategy for palliative care, and patients at advanced stages of cancer are dying in terrible pain. Only 12 out of 22 countries have a policy to administer morphine to manage the pain.

Many cases of pediatric cancer could be prevented by protecting them from second-hand smoke, use of safe pesticides, and intense solar heat.

There is a tremendous need for preventive screening, early detection, and availability of the latest cancer treatments.

The UAE is determined to bring down cancer fatalities by 18% by 2021. The UAE National Agenda 2021 highlights preventative medicine and aims to reduce the burden of cancer, while improving the healthcare system’s readiness and responsiveness to address health risks. 

The number of cases expected to double by 2030, according to the World Health Organization (WHO).

Through proper education cancer can be prevented, life expectancy can be increased, and quality of life both during and after treatment can be improved exponentially. The Cancer Exercise Training Institute (CETI), a United States-based organization, has trained over 10,000 health and fitness professionals to become Cancer Exercise Specialists since 2004.  

Through the comprehensive training health and fitness professionals seeking to attain a higher level of mastery and work with cancer patients during and after cancer surgery and treatment and into survivorship. Participants will expand their skills as a CES and gain a complete understanding of the entire cancer process from diagnosis and treatment to reconstruction and survivorship. The unique and individualized programming will help to improve the patient’s ability to cope with the mental and physical stress following cancer diagnosis and treatment. The comprehensive programming covers 26 types of cancer, as well as pediatrics, with special emphasis on breast cancer and breast reconstruction. 

“The Cancer Exercise Specialist is to CANCER what Cardiac Rehab. is to the HEART PATIENT.” – Andrea Leonard

Regular continuing education is required to maintain the high-standard of expertise required to work with this population.

The benefits of exercise during treatment include:

  1. Increased energy
  2. Improved treatment tolerance
  3. Decrease in pain
  4. Decrease in depression
  5. Better sleep
  6. Improved self-esteem/self-confidence
  7. Prevent weight gain and obesity
  8. Prevent.manage lymphedema
  9. Prevent cancer cachexia 
  10. Maintain independence
  11. Improved balance and strength
  12. Makes treatment more effective at destroying cancer cells

The benefits of exercise during recovery include:

  1. Increased range of motion
  2. Correct muscle imbalances that lead to pain and degeneration
  3. Increased energy
  4. Increased stamina
  5. Increases in strength and cardiovascular endurance
  6. Prevent osteoporosis, diabetes, lymphedema, future cancer, and damage to the heart and lungs 
  7. Decrease body fat and increase lean muscle mass
  8. Improve balance and fall prevention
  9. Improved self-esteem/self-confidence

Based on the tremendous amount of evidence to support the aforementioned lists, it is mind-boggling that so few cancer patients are told to exercise. For those who are given the green light to exercise, the big problem is not knowing where to start, how to safely progress, and how to prevent many of the complications associated with cancer treatment.

By training more allied health professionals worldwide, CETI is creating a global resource for medical professionals to be able to confidently refer their patients. 

“Cancer strips you of everything. Your hair, your body parts, your dignity, your self-confidence, your strength and stamina, your finances, sometimes even your job or spouse. A Cancer Exercise Specialist can help the cancer patient regain control of their life and their body at a time that the patient feels they have no control.” – Andrea Leonard

If you are interested in learning more about becoming a Cancer Exercise Specialist in the UAE, or would like to learn about bringing CETI’s training to your country, please contact CETIguru@gmail.com or REGISTER HERE

SAVE $150 by using code SAVE150 before October 1, 2019.

 

 

UAE Government, https://government.ae/en/information-and-services/health-and-fitness/chronic-diseases-and-natural-disorders/cancer-

9/13/2018, Asma Ali Zain /Dubai, https://www.khaleejtimes.com/news/uae-health/over-4500-new-cancer-cases-in-uae-this-year

7/8/2019, Middle East Insurance Review, https://www.meinsurancereview.com/News/View-NewsLetter-Article?id=47418&Type=MiddleEast

2/3/2016, Samihah Zaman, Gulf News Health, https://gulfnews.com/uae/health/2021-uae-aims-to-cut-cancer-cases-by-18-1.1665130