Smoking linked to majority of lung cancer patients in UAE, report

Smoking linked to majority of lung cancer patients in UAE, reportAccording to a new report, majority of the lung cancer patients in UAE smoke cigarettes or shisha and the only way to address the issue is to quit the habit.

A report by the Centre for Arab Genomic Studies of Dubai on World Cancer Day on Saturday showed that cancer is the third largest cause of deaths in the UAE. It also found that the disease causes more deaths than heart disease or traffic accidents.

The researchers said that breast cancer and thyroid cancers are among the most common cancers among women. Thy found that breast cancer is affecting women in their thirties in the region, which is about 10 years earlier than the world average.

"Due to social customs women do not present themselves for regular medical examination and this usually leads in late diagnosis," the report said.

The center warned that there is not strategy to deal with the problem in Arab communities. The World Cancer Day is aimed at promoting awareness of cancer and to encourage early prevention, detection and treatment.

Experts say that there is low awareness about the ill affects of smoking cigarettes or shisha, which is a common habit among men and women in the region.