Breast cancer awareness among rural women is still very low compared to those living in town.
The Likas Women and Children Hospital's Radiotherapy and Oncology Department Head, Dr. Daren Teoh explained that research suggests there should be about 40 new breast cancer cases in every 100,000 people globally. "Looking at the number of Sabah's population, by right we estimate there should be about 1,200 new cases every year, but present records shown by the hospital and Health Ministry shows that we only have about 350-400 new cases reported annually.
"This means two third of the breast cancer patients are not coming to hospitals but choose to seek treatment the traditional way, or through bomoh, or sensei probably," he said. From this number, he said half of them are already in the third or fourth stage or the cancer, which gives them lesser chances of survival.
"Only about 15 per cent of later stage patients survive more than five years, whereas if they were detected earlier, the chances of survival are about 95 per cent or more," Teoh explained. He said this during a press conference organised by a breast cancer support association - the Pink Ribbon Kinabalu at the Hyatt Regency Kinabalu here, Wednesday.
The cancer specialist who has promised to go bald in conjunction with the association's Mother's Day Walk Abreast walkathon this Sunday, said much exposure needs to be given to those living out of town for this reason. Likewise, Association President, Lucilla Pang, who was also diagnosed with breast cancer not so long ago, and who had undergone treatment as the cancer was detected at an early stage, agreed awareness campaigns and activities are much more needed in the rural districts.
"But since our resources are limited given the fact that all association activities and programmes are self funded or from donations, there are still quite a lot of restrictions for us to reach out to the villagers better," she said. However, despite the financial burdens that the association members need to bear, they are still able to raise funds and come up with various programmes every year, be it going to villages, or activities in town, such as the walkathon this weekend.
She said among the funds they are planning to raise is for the purchase of a vehicle which would enable members and volunteers to travel together on charity, awareness and community programmes related to breast cancer. "It is quite hard for us now because every time we want to do an activity in the villages, or somewhere further from here, we need to rent a van, and it is quite hard for us to move about as we like," Pang pointed out.
Earlier, Teoh mentioned that the government has also started to invest in medical development in the State. "They have started to invest in medical upgrading, among which is the construction of a nuclear and radiotherapy centre (for cancer treatment) at the Likas hospital that will benefit a lot of local cancer patients once it is completed and fully operational this year.
"The government is also trying its best to attract local specialists from this field to come back from West Malaysia or overseas, and at the moment two doctors, each from Scotland and West Malaysia have already come back," he said.
Meanwhile, the Mother's Day Walk Abreast programme not only aims at creating awareness on the issue, it will also provide the first 100 women aged between 25 and 39, free ultrasound breast screening when they register on May 13, before the event gets underway at 6.30am. The ultrasound breast screening will be done at the Sabah family planning clinics. Apart from that, there will be a decorated bra exhibition, lucky draws, health education by Dr. Teoh as well as free one hour Zumba class for participants.
Sources: Daily Express
Picture: Google Image
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