The rate of treatment cases outside the country is expected to reach 5% in the coming years

Humaid Al Shamsi: 86% of cancers can be treated within the country

Humaid Al Shamsi: "The main causes of cancer are genetics and family history."

The President of the Emirates Cancer Society and a consultant oncologist at the University of Sharjah, Professor Humaid bin Harmal Al Shamsi, confirmed that about 86% of cancer diseases can be treated within the country, while the remaining percentage requires bone marrow transplants.

He expected that the percentage of cases requiring treatment outside the country will reach 5% in the coming years, especially after the availability of bone marrow transplants at the Abu Dhabi Stem Cell Center, and these cases require rare surgical interventions.

Al Shamsi identified 13 causes of cancer, noting that "breast cancer tops the list of the most common cancerous diseases in the country."

Al Shamsi explained to "Emirates Today" that the main causes of cancer are concentrated in the genetic factor and family history, as they are behind 10-15% of all types of cancer.

Aging is also a factor in increasing the incidence of cancer.

He continued, “Excessive consumption of red meat and fats is also one of the causes of cancer, especially cancers of the digestive system.

Obesity is also a cause of 13 types of cancer, including colon, breast, uterus, ovary, stomach, pancreas and thyroid.

Al Shamsi added: “Smoking is the cause of 16 types of cancer, including lung, breast, bladder and pancreatic cancer.

Also, drinking alcohol increases the incidence of cancer by 10% compared to non-alcoholic patients, including lung, breast and pancreatic cancer.”

He stated that the causes also include viruses such as the papilloma virus that causes cervical cancer, and hepatitis B and C virus, which causes liver cancer, in addition to infections, such as stomach bacteria that cause stomach cancer, and chronic infections, such as chronic colon ulcer disease, if treatment is not adhered to.

He pointed out that the causes also include environmental pollution, as the incidence of a number of cancers, such as lung and bladder, increases, and exposure to radiation increases the risk of skin cancer, in addition to the fact that people who follow a non-athletic lifestyle are more likely to develop cancer.

Al Shamsi pointed out that breast cancer tops the list of the most common cancerous diseases in the country, with 15% to 40% of patients under the age of 50, compared to 60% over the age of 50, 90% of cases are due to unclear reasons, and 10% are genetic, in addition to Obesity and smoking, especially among young people, noting that 27% of young people suffer from obesity.

He stressed that breast, colon and prostate cancer are the most common types in the country.

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