Women Need To Be More Aware Of Breast Cancer

KUALA LUMPUR, June 5 (Bernama) -- Women need to be more aware of the dangers of breast cancer including prevention and treatment of the disease, said the prime minister's wife, Rosmah Mansor. She said low-level awareness and a lackadaisical attitude towards cancer were the main contributing factors to increasing death rates due to cancer in women aged 40 and above. "Although a lot of public awareness campaigns on the disease have been organised by various bodies, cancer awareness is still low. "The sufferers would only go hospital when the cancer has spread and difficult to treat...the failure to obtain early detection and treatment and their inclination to seek alternative treatment have resulted in increased death rates due to cancer." Rosmah (centre) said this at the launching of the Pink Ribbon Wellness Foundation at a hotel, here, on Monday. Also present were the foundation's patron, Maniseh Adam (left), and its founder, Dr M.Devanand. The Pink Ribbon Wellness Foundation was established on Feb 28, this year to educate and provide care for breast cancer patients, besides creating greater public awareness on the disease. Rosmah advised women, especially those at high risk of getting the disease, to do self-examination of their breasts and seek immediate treatment if they detect any abnormality. She said breast cancer was a global problem as surveys done by cancer organisations, showed that for every 100,000 women in the world, 127 were cancer sufferers and 25 died from the disease. "In Asia, the increase in breast cancer cases has been drastic of late. In Malaysia, it remains the No. 1 killer for women, as 45 per cent of cancer patients are women, with 18 per cent of them suffering from breast cancer." In facing cancer, Rosmah said, the support of family and friends was important for cancer patients to fight the disease and to not feel isolated. The Pink Ribbon Wellness Foundation will be organising a big bike charity ride in September and an international symposium titled, 'Life Beyond Breast Cancer' in October. (photoBERNAMA) MALAYSIA