Fear Factor Prevents Women In Malaysia From Undergoing Mammogram Test

KUALA LUMPUR, Nov 9 (Bernama) -- The fear of knowing the test result is among the reasons for many women, especially in the urban areas, not undergoing mammogram screening for early detection of breast cancer. National Cancer Council (Makna) general manager Farahida Mohd Farid said some women had the thinking that a mammogram test would be painful. "Makna will be doing an overall study to know the real extent of the situation," she said after receiving a cheque for RM10,000 collected from the Breast Cancer Awareness Month campaign organised by Columbia Asia Hospital from Kelvin Tan, chief executive officer of Columbia Asia for Southeast Asia, here, on Thursday. Farahida said it was also found through the mobile mammogram unit programme, that the level of understanding on breast cancer and mammogram for early detection was still low, especially among rural women. She said that between 2007 and October 2012, about 6,000 women throughout the country had undergone early tests, with one per cent of them requiring treatment. Tan, meanwhile, said Columbia Asia Hospital would continue to collaborate with Makna and the National Population and Family Development Board to encourage women to go for mammogram tests. Also present at the cheque presentation was breast cancer survivor, Malaysian singer Salamiah Hassan, who was detected to have the disease in 1981. "Go for an early test to find out whether we have the disease or not. If there are signs of the disease in us, seek treatment immediately," said the 61-year-old singer in sharing her experience. Salamiah said not many people knew that she had breast cancer and only after she was fully cured that she started convincing women on the importance of early detection of the disease. "Even after 30 years, I still go for health screening at least once a year," she said. -- BERNAMA