The UAE sees approximately 1,100 new cancer cases among its Filipino residents each year, according to Dr. Mohanad Diab, a medical oncology consultant who has been practicing in the country for a decade.
“This figure encompasses all types of cancer,” Dr. Diab said in a GMA News Online report.
Breast cancer accounts for about 250 of these new cases annually, with the majority reported in Dubai, followed by Abu Dhabi. “Breast cancer is the most common type among Filipinos in the UAE, followed by cervical, colon, and lung cancers,” Dr. Diab said.
Dr. Diab noted a shift in the stages of cancer diagnosed over the years. “Three to four years ago, during the COVID pandemic, we saw more metastatic cases than local ones. Now, we are seeing more early-stage cancers, indicating an improvement in early detection,” he explained.
Treatment approaches vary based on the cancer diagnosis. “Patients are usually treated with surgery. Some receive chemotherapy or hormone therapy, particularly breast cancer patients,” Dr. Diab said. He highlighted advances in immunotherapy and targeted therapy, which have significantly improved patient outcomes.
Dr. Diab emphasized that Filipino cancer patients no longer need to return to the Philippines for treatment. “In the past, many had to go back to their home country, but this is no longer necessary,” he stated, praising the UAE’s support programs and charitable institutions that assist expat patients with the financial costs of cancer treatment.
With an estimated one million Filipinos residing in the UAE, half of whom are in Dubai, the community benefits greatly from the country’s robust healthcare support systems.