Today's Edition
SARA ALZAABI (ABU DHABI)
Cancer awareness campaigns in the UAE are helping more residents act on medical advice long promoted by doctors: seek screening before symptoms appear, understand personal risk and make prevention part of routine healthcare.
According to oncology specialists in Abu Dhabi, public awareness efforts are no longer confined to seasonal messaging. Instead, they are helping normalise regular screening, healthier lifestyles and earlier medical consultations, all of which can improve outcomes when cancer is discovered.
Prof Dr Humaid Alshamsi, CEO of Burjeel Cancer Institute, said that awareness efforts in the UAE have become part of a wider prevention culture, with more people recognising that early detection can change the course of treatment.
"Cancer awareness in the UAE has moved beyond seasonal campaigns; it has become part of a wider national culture of prevention. Early detection oftenmeans less aggressive treatment, better survival outcomes, and a higher quality of life for patients," he told Aletihad.
Alshamsi explained that repeated public health messaging can reduce fear around cancer and encourage people to seek help sooner, rather than delaying care because of stigma or anxiety.
"This is where awareness becomes life-saving," he stressed.
Dr Alshamsi added that, although precision medicine, robotic surgery, and other advanced methods are now a regular part of cancer care in Abu Dhabi, technology alone is not enough to ensure the best outcomes.
"The most important point is that technology alone is not enough - the best outcomes come when advanced technology is combined with early diagnosis, expert clinical judgment, multidisciplinary care, patient education, and compassionate support throughout the treatment journey," he said.
"Do not wait for symptoms. Make prevention a part of your routine, seek medical advice early when something feels unusual."
Dr Stephen R Grobmyer, surgical oncologist and institute chief of Cleveland Clinic Abu Dhabi's Cancer Institute, said that awareness campaigns are making prevention more practical by encouraging residents to take up screening and adopt habits that lower long-term risk.
"The emphasis on cancer awareness in the UAE is moving people from reactive to proactive health behaviours. This includes regular cancer screening to detect cancers at the earliest and most treatable stages, as well as adopting healthier lifestyles that reduce the risk of cancer and other chronic diseases," he told Aletihad, citing nationwide screening programmes and public health campaigns.
Coupled with the country's technological advances, patients across Abu Dhabi and the wider UAE have access to some of the most comprehensive cancer care in the world, Dr Grobmyer noted.
However, he also pointed out that the same prevention message must remain central outside hospitals, since lifestyle choices and routine screening can reduce risk and help detect disease sooner.
"We have learned through many research studies that a healthy lifestyle can reduce a patient's risk for cancer: regular exercise, a healthy diet, and maintaining a healthy body weight are very important. Avoiding exposure to tobacco and alcohol has also been associated with minimising the risk of developing cancer," he explained.
Dr Mudhasir Ahmad, oncology specialist at Lifecare Hospital Musaffah, said that the UAE's awareness campaigns have had a greater impact because they give residents clear routes to screening and follow-up care, rather than leaving prevention as a general message.
"The UAE has made significant progress in advancing cancer awareness. These efforts are not limited to awareness alone but are closely integrated with national screening programs, preventive strategies, and community outreach," he said, noting that about 80% of breast cancer cases are now detected at earlier stages.
Dr Ahmad added that screening and awareness programmes are improving outcomes across several cancer types, including breast, colorectal, lung and cervical cancers.
Alongside the prevention push, he pointed out that Abu Dhabi's oncology sector has expanded access to advanced diagnostics and treatments, allowing specialists to tailor care more closely to each patient once cancer is detected.
