Many women yet to do breast tests

Star: MALACCA: Only 57% of the country’s female population above 20 years of age conducted breast self-examination while 52% underwent clinical examination, according to the National Health and Morbidity Survey 2006.
“The figure shows only half the female population has the awareness of performing self-check, which is very low considering the 3,800 new cases of breast cancer reported each year,” said Health Minister Datuk Liow Tiong Lai.
“Breast cancer can be detected early through self-check and clinical examination. If detected and treated early, the five-year survival rate of breast cancer patients is more than 90%,” he said.
He added that cervical cancer was the second most common cancer among women with 1,600 new cases reported each year.
“Our survey found that only 43.7% of women above 20 underwent pap-smear screening although the ministry introduced the screening in health clinics in 1981,” he told reporters after officiating the ‘Early detection – the path to cure’ health awareness seminar by Malacca Wanita MCA here yesterday.
Liow also urged Malaysians to maintain healthy eating habits to avoid weight-related diseases such as obesity and diabetes.
On another matter, Liow said the Government would not cut down on the RM400mil allocation to his ministry for its human capital development, despite the increase in cost.
“We never cut down on human capital development because we need more doctors, specialists and nurses in our hospitals.”