Penang govt calls on women to enrol in state’s mammogram test programme

GEORGE TOWN, Oct 13 -- In conjunction with World Breast Cancer Awareness Month, Penang government called on all women to enrol in “Mammo-Penang”, a programme providing free mammogram test under the state’s initiative.

Chief Minister Chow Kon Yeow today said that the programme, which was launched in March this year, had successfully enrolled 1,565 Penang women aged 35 and above to undergo mammogram test at any medical centres registered under the National Population and Family Development Board (LPPKN).

He said that more than half of the registered women have undergone mammogram screening with only 16 women have been referred to a hospital or medical centre for further investigation.

“While the government, health care professionals and voluntary organisations will continue to improve the infrastructure for cancer education, treatment and research, each Malaysian must also do his or her part in this battle against breast cancer by adopting a healthy lifestyle,” he said in his opening speech for the launch of Pink October 2019 here.

Meanwhile, Gleneagles Hospital Penang Medical Advisory Board Chairman Datuk Dr Lai Yoon Kee said that 43 per cent of breast cancer cases in Malaysia were only discovered at a late stage, namely the third or the fourth stage.

Dr Lai said that one of the reasons was that many women chose to ignore their yearly mammogram screening due to ignorance and fear.

“In Malaysia alone, cancer is the fourth leading cause of death and it is estimated to rise to more than 55,000 newly diagnosed cases by 2030,” he said.

As such, he said he hoped to see more women stepping forward and get screening for early detection of breast cancer, improving higher health education in rural areas, and decreasing the number for non-communicable diseases patients annually.

--BERNAMA