WOMEN should not take lightly, the government's recommendations to go for mammogram screening for early detection of breast cancer.
This is because more than 80 percent of women in the country had not undergone mammogram screening and data showed that 34.1 in 100,000 women are suffering from the disease.
Based on the statistics, in 2021, more than 8,000 women were diagnosed with breast cancer and according to the Malaysia National Cancer Registry report 2012-2016, 47.9 per cent of breast cancer cases were detected when they were already at the third or fourth stage.
In this regard, women are urged to take advantage of the various initiatives under the Ministry of Women, Family and Community Development (KPWKM) to get checked immediately.
Its deputy minister Datuk Siti Zailah Mohd Yusoff recently advised women not to wait until their condition gets worse to get checked.
The government has allocated RM11.5 million as announced in the 2022 Budget for breast and cervical cancers screening and tests nationwide.
Apart from that, the National Population and Family Development Board (LPPKN) had introduced the Women’s Reproductive Cancer Awareness Campaign (WCaRe) in its efforts to promote the Mammogram Screening Subsidy Programme.
In encouraging women to go for mammogram screening, LPPKN has provided transportation from the Nur Sejahtera clinics or community centres to the screening centres.
Food allowance of RM10 will also be provided for each clients located over 200 kilometres away or for a one way journey of over four hours from the locations they gathered.
Accommodation assistance of RM110 would also be given to those unable to complete their mammogram screening on the same day.
Remember, apart from breast cancer, women could also face the risk of ovarian and cervical cancers. Early detection saves lives.