Fatimah (third right) and others cutting a cake to mark the opening of the state-level ‘Kiss Goodbye To Breast Cancer’ campaign at Avon Beauty boutique in Jalan Kampung Dato Sibu.
Minister: Clinical checks, mammograms better and more viable means in detecting breast cancer instead of unproven alternative methods
SIBU: Women have been urged to undergo regular clinical checks and mammogram tests for breast cancer instead of opting for traditional treatments, which may not be able to correctly identify underlying symptoms.
Welfare, Women and Family Development Minister Datuk Fatimah Abdullah said the diagnosis from medical doctors remained a much more viable way in tracing cancerous cells, versus traditional or other alternative medicinal methods.
“If traced earlier, women could seek earlier treatments for breast cancer and therefore, could significantly reduce the chance of it coming back.
“However, if some of the traditional methods (to detect and treat breast cancer) have been scientifically validated, then there should not be any problem,” she told reporters after officiating at the state-level ‘Kiss Goodbye To Breast Cancer’ campaign at Avon Beauty boutique in Jalan Kampung Dato here yesterday.
The event was organised by Avon Cosmetics (M) Sdn Bhd with the cooperation from National Family Development and Population Board (LPPKN).
Among those present were state LPPN director Noraini Ahmad, Avon Kampung Dato branch manager Anniyah Sia and the divisional Sarakup Indu Dayak Sarawak (SIDS) chairwoman Datuk Ir Alice Jawan.
Fatimah said the government, through LPPKN, had provided the facilities such as transportation, food allowance and accommodation for free to those who could not afford them or women from the remote pockets across the state, to undertake checks at mammogram centres approved by the board.
Moreover, she said, the agency also provided free pap smear tests till Dec 31.
“I hope Sarawakian women would not miss out on this opportunity.”
Fatimah also said for every non-governmental organisation (NGO) having successfully brought a member or client to undergo mammogram test at the approved centres, it would be given an incentive of RM10.
“This means they (NGOs) would get more by bringing more women for checks.
“Still, I believe this information has probably not reached NGOs across the state for till now, there is yet any participation from them – which is rather unfortunate,” she said, adding that there are seven mammogram centres in the state, apart from those set up in government hospitals.
Meanwhile, Fatimah said until last month, a total of 6,372 Sarawakian women had undergone mammogram tests. Comparatively, the target set by her ministry was to have 8,500 women going for check-ups this year.
“At 75 per cent (of the target), this is an achievement, and I hope we could achieve 100 per cent or more, by year-end. Between the campaign launch in May 2007 and Sept 30 this year, a total of 28,043 women in Sarawak had undergone mammogram tests – out of whom 35 were tested positive (for breast cancer),” she said, urging Sarawakian women to make clinical checks for breast cancer as one of their life priorities.
The minister also called on NGOs to obtain participation forms from LPPKN in encouraging women of all backgrounds to undergo mammogram tests and clinical check-ups to detect signs of breast cancer.