Every October, the UAE turns its attention to breast cancer awareness — and for good reason. Breast cancer is the most commonly diagnosed cancer among women in the UAE, but it's also one where early detection makes a dramatic difference to outcomes. This month is about making sure that message actually reaches people, not just trends on a feed for four weeks.
The Numbers Worth Knowing
Breast cancer accounts for roughly 21% of all cancer cases diagnosed among women in the UAE, making it the most prevalent cancer in the country. The encouraging part: when it's caught early, the five-year survival rate is around 89%. That gap — between early and late detection — is almost entirely closed by one thing: regular screening.
The latest figures from the World Health Organization's International Agency for Research on Cancer (IARC) put this in sharper focus: in 2024, the UAE recorded 1,774 new breast cancer cases, making it the single most diagnosed cancer in the country across both men and women, and accounting for just over 20% of all new cancer diagnoses nationwide. Breast cancer was also linked to close to 13% of all cancer deaths in the UAE that year — a reminder that this isn't a niche health topic here, it's the most common cancer diagnosis in the country.
Zoom out, and the same pattern holds globally. The WHO estimates around 2.3 million women are diagnosed with breast cancer worldwide each year, with roughly 670,000 deaths — and on current trends, annual cases are projected to climb by nearly 40% to about 3.2 million by 2050. What separates a good outcome from a poor one is rarely the disease itself; it's access. Women in high-income countries have an average five-year survival rate of around 83%, while in many lower-income countries more than half of the women diagnosed do not survive, largely due to limited access to early screening and timely treatment. That's exactly the gap initiatives like Pink Caravan exist to close here in the UAE — making early detection a matter of showing up, not affording it.
Get Screened This October
If you're in the UAE, Pink Caravan — a nationwide initiative run by Friends of Cancer Patients, a Sharjah-based charity — offers free clinical breast examinations and mammograms throughout October, open to both women and men, through fixed clinics across all seven emirates and mobile units that visit neighbourhoods, workplaces and universities. Last year's campaign delivered more than 19,000 free screenings. If you've been putting off a screening, this is the easiest month in the UAE to stop putting it off.
A Personal Note from Our Founder
Our founder, Rita, has a personal connection to this cause. A conversation with her doctor about how ingredients like parabens and aluminium in everyday skincare can affect hormones is part of why this brand exists and why every Purple Swan product is formulated without them. To be clear: the science on parabens and aluminium is genuinely divided, and no major health authority has established that they cause cancer. We're not making a medical claim here, and nothing we make treats, prevents or affects cancer risk — it's simply part of why we formulate the way we do.
Caring for Your Skin During and After Treatment
Skin often becomes noticeably more sensitive during cancer treatment — drier, more reactive, less tolerant of fragrance and harsh actives. If that's you or someone you love right now, the main advice is simple: check with your oncology team before introducing anything new, since what helps one person may not suit another. Where a gentle, fragrance-light product is appropriate, something mild and non-foaming is usually a safer starting point than an active-heavy routine.
Frequently Asked Questions
Does Purple Swan claim its products prevent or treat breast cancer?
No. Our products are skincare and self-care items only. They don't prevent, treat or otherwise affect breast cancer risk. Our founder's own experience shaped why this brand exists and how it's formulated — that isn't a claim about what any product can medically do.
Is it true that parabens and aluminium cause cancer?
This is genuinely debated. Some doctors raise concerns about how these ingredients may affect hormones, but no major health authority has established that parabens or aluminium in cosmetics definitively cause cancer. If you're concerned, discuss it with your own doctor rather than taking this as medical fact.
Should I change my skincare routine during cancer treatment?
Please do this only with your oncology team's guidance. Skin sensitivity varies enormously from person to person during treatment, and what helped one person may not suit another — always check with your care team before introducing a new product.
What is Pink Caravan, and is the screening really free?
Pink Caravan is a nationwide breast cancer awareness initiative offering free clinical breast examinations and mammograms across the UAE every October, through fixed mall clinics and mobile units, open to both women and men.
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Gentle Self-Care Essentials
Browse face care at purpleswan.ae/collections/face-care — and if you’re in the UAE, please consider booking a free Pink Caravan screening this October. |
Related reading: Why Parabens Are Harmful & How to Avoid Them and The Clean Beauty Movement in the UAE: What’s Driving It.
