Bus the mammograms out to our women, says expert

Star: KUALA LUMPUR: If women cannot come and check for breast cancer, then it is the duty of those concerned to take the tests to them.
This is the suggestion made by Dr M. Devanand, organising chairman of Wear It Pink 2 – Breast Cancer Education and Awareness Campaign 2006, at the launch yesterday.
He has proposed that a bus, equipped with facilities to check for breast cancer, travel across the nation to provide examination for women.
“If our women cannot come and have themselves checked then it is our duty to send the mammograms out to them,” Dr Devanand, a breast cancer surgeon, told reporters.
Women, Family and Community Development Minister Datuk Seri Shahrizat Abdul Jalil, who was at the function, said she would relay the proposal to the Health Ministry.
It was a sea of pink as the attendees donned the colour at the launch of the campaign at Pantai Medical Centre here.
Initiated last year, Wear It Pink was founded on the principle of creating awareness and knowledge for the prevention and early detection of breast cancer as well as raising funds for the needy.
In her speech, Shahrizat stressed the importance of early detection.
“It is crucial that our women learn the proper way to check themselves,” she said.
Dr Devanand said the campaign was aimed at educating, empowering and encouraging women of all ages to take charge of their breast health and learn the importance of monthly breast self-examination and annual breast screening.
Pantai Medical Centre chief executive officer Choy Wah Wei reminded husbands of their duty to help their wives conduct the monthly checks.
Breast cancer survivors also lent their support to the campaign.
Survivor Yong Lee Lee, 43, advised Malaysian women to face the truth and not give up hope easily if they were struck by the disease.
“If we were meant to get cancer then we will get cancer. It is up to us to face the situation and fight it with all our might,” she told the audience at the launch.