BREAST CANCER AWARENESS IN OCTOBER

PINK TROOPERS....(From left - right) Avon Representatives Emily Sitawin, Cecilia Gau, Kinabalu Pink Ribbon President Lucilla Pang, and Committee Member Julia Hiew at the Press Conference.

By : ELAINE MAH

BREAST cancer is the most common cancer among women in Malaysia. One out of 20 Malaysian women is at risk of succumbing to breast cancer. In Sabah, breast cancer afflicts approximately 1200 women yearly. What is more alarming, according to Kinabalu Pink Ribbon President Lucilla Pang, is that breast cancer victims are getting younger.

"Just last month the breast cancer clinic in Queen Elizabeth Hospital told me that they have six patients currently seeking treatment and they are all in their 30s. It is alarming that patients are getting younger as compared to before when the age norm is 40 and above." she said.

According to medical statistics, if a patient's breast cancer is detected early enough, the five-year survival rate is well over 95%. Unfortunately, currently more than 50% of breast cancer victims only seek treatment when the disease has reached a more advanced stage.

Kinabalu Pink Ribbon, an NGO made up of breast cancer survivors, hopes to buck this trend. They are out to do battle against breast cancer and the first step they take is to increase awareness and educate women especially those in the rural areas of Sabah on the importance of monthly breast self-examination, annual clinical breast examination, especially the mammogram test.

In conjunction with the Worldwide Breast Cancer Awareness Month this October, the Kinabalu Pink Ribbon has coordinated a number of activities with the aim of increasing public awareness on breast health issues and breast self examination. Activities lined up include Breast Health talks and roadshows for students, civil servants and the general public held around the Kota Kinabalu area.

The month-long awareness event will end with a Pink Family Day Picnic on the 28th October 2012 at Likas Bay, where more than 1000 people are expected to attend. The picnic will run from 7.30 a.m. to 2.00 p.m. and will be officiated by Minister of Community Development and Consumer Affairs, Azizah Mohd. Dun. (Insight Sabah)