Breast cancer is a type of cancer which starts in the breast. The cells in the breast begin to grow out of control, forming a tumour which most of the time can be felt as a lump¹.

Like most cancers, breast cancer patients have a better survival rate when the cancer is detected and diagnosed at the early stage⁴.

Here are some of the factors that may increase your risk of developing breast cancer:

Different people may show different symptoms of breast cancer, while some may not show any signs or symptoms at all. But here are some warning signs you can look out for through regular breast self-examination:

Kindly discuss with your healthcare professional if you notice any of these signs or symptoms.

When it comes to breast cancer, regular screening is important for early detection, especially for individuals who have no signs and symptoms of the disease. Here are different methods of screening:

• Clinical breast examination
• Screening mammograms. Uses X-ray at lower doses to produce images of the breast⁴.

The Malaysian Clinical Practice Guideline for breast cancer recommends screening mammography* for women who meet the following conditions¹¹:

• Every two years for women aged between 50 to 74 years
• For women at high risk of breast cancer without known genetic variant, consider screening mammography from 30-39, annual screening if aged between 40 to 59 and every two years from 60 onwards.
• For carriers with genetic predisposition, annual magnetic resonance imaging should be offered from 30-49 years of age, annual mammography from 40-69 and every two years from 70 onwards.

*Kindly discuss with your healthcare professional for more information on mammogram screening.

When breast cancer is suspected, diagnosis will be performed by:

Remember, early detection is key in our battle against cancer.

So, don’t wait.

Click here to get screened today

References:
1. American Cancer Society. What is breast cancer? Available at https://www.cancer.org/cancer/breast-cancer/about/what-is-breast-cancer.html. Last accessed 2 August 2021.
2. World Health Organization. Globocan 2018 Malaysia. Available at https://gco.iarc.fr/today/data/factsheets/populations/458-malaysia-fact-sheets.pdf. Last accessed 5 July 2021.
3. Ministry of Health. Malaysian National Cancer Registry Report (2012 – 2016). Available at https://www.moh.gov.my/moh/resources/Penerbitan/Laporan/Umum/2012-2016%20(MNCRR)/MNCR_2012-2016_FINAL_(PUBLISHED_2019).pdf. Last accessed 5 July 2021.
4. American Cancer Society. Survival Rate for Breast Cancer. Available at https://www.cancer.org/cancer/breast-cancer/understanding-a-breast-cancer-diagnosis/breast-cancer-survival-rates.html. Last accessed 21 July 2021.
5. CDC. What are the risks for breast cancer? Available at https://www.cdc.gov/cancer/breast/basic_info/risk_factors.html. Last accessed 5 July 2021.
6. American Cancer Society. Breast cancer risk factors you cannot change. Available at https://www.cancer.org/cancer/breast-cancer/risk-and-prevention/breast-cancer-risk-factors-you-cannot-change.html. Last accessed 23 July 2021.
7. Stopeck A, et al. Available at: http://emedicine.medscape.com/article/1947145-overview. Last accessed 29 July 2021.
8. CDC. What are the symptoms of breast cancer? Available at https://www.cdc.gov/cancer/breast/basic_info/symptoms.html. Last accessed 5 July 2021.
9. Cancer.net. Breast cancer: Diagnosis. Available at https://www.cancer.net/cancer-types/breast-cancer/diagnosis. Last accessed 5 July 2021.
10. American Cancer Society. Breast Cancer Early Detection and Diagnosis. Available at https://www.cancer.org/cancer/breast-cancer/screening-tests-and-early-detection.html. Last accessed 23 July 2021.
11. Ministry of Health. Clinical Practice Guideline 2019 – Management of Breast Cancer (third edition). Available at https://www2.moh.gov.my/moh/resources/Penerbitan/CPG/
Kanser/Breast%20Cancer/CPG_Management_of_Breast_Cancer_
(Third_Edition)_130720.pdf. Last accessed 21 July 2021.