Breast Cancer Survivors Help Create Public Awareness On Disease

KUCHING, March 24 (Bernama) -- The number of breast cancer cases in Sarawak can be brought down further with the support of the disease survivors in creating public awareness on prevention.
State Social Development and Urbanisation Minister, Datuk Seri William Mawan, said about 70 new cases were reported and admitted to the Sarawak General Hospital (SGH) here every year for treatment.
"There has been a substantial decline in the number of cases over the years and the people telling the stories are the breast cancer survivors themselves, who feel the need to share their personal experiences through the spirit of voluntarism," he told reporters after opening the Sarawak Breast Cancer Support Group (SBCSG) Centre here.
The centre, named "Matahari" is run by the SBCSG, which has 154 registered members, and provides resources and a helpline, especially to women newly diagnosed with cancer.
As was the case worldwide, Mawan said, breast cancer was the second biggest cause of morbidity and mortality among women in the country, with the Health Ministry investing a lot money to provide the necessary infrastructure and manpower to combat it and other types of cancer.
However, the government's efforts effort alone were not enough to deal with the potentially curable yet lethal disease as the public must be made aware of the importance of its early diagnosis, understanding and acceptance of modern treatment modalities and their side effects, he said.
Earlier, SBCSG president Suriani Rapaiee said the support group was initiated by one of the survivors together with the oncologist and staff of the SGH radiotheraphy unit in 1993.
"The survivors felt they needed their own 'little nest', where they would be able to interact, seek psycho-social support and share in a more comfortable and private environment at their own time and pace," she said.
Besides reaching out to other isolated survivors, the group organises talks on breast cancer and prevention as well as exhibitions with the support of non-governmental organisations and the community.
Suriani said it would also target the village security and development committees and secondary schools as part of its voluntary community programme in Sarawak.