March 11, 2007 24 Comments

Breast Cancer Awareness

This campaign was organised by the SP division of Wanita MCA on 9th March 2007

The breast cancer incidence for Malaysian Chinese in the year of 2003 was 59.7 per 100,000. The rate in Indians was 55.8 per 100,000 and in Malays, it was 33.9 per 100,000.

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24 comments so far

FireHorse March 11, 2007 11:06 pm

Does size have anything to do with risk? For instance Bigger = Higher Risk? Come to think of it, Chinese women compared to Malays and Indian have smaller ones so maybe cannot be hor?
hoiling March 12, 2007 12:37 am

Hrmm .. from the stas, looks like Chinese women have higher risk of breast cancer. I wonder if that due to race, gene, food or lifestyle?
Jean-Luc Picard March 12, 2007 1:37 am

It is interesting that the area of the world can make so much difference.
Bernard March 12, 2007 2:11 am

FireHorse, size does matter… bigger cup-sizes increases the risk. But it doesn’t explain the difference in the incidence between races.

hoiling, it could be genetic plus the environmental factors like diet and obesity. Reproductive patterns have an effect on the risk of breast cancer.

Early menarche, late menopause, late first pregnancy and never been pregnant are risk factors for breast cancer. Perhaps these patterns may explain the difference among the races.

Capt Picard, that’s not even comparing different areas of the world. The statistics are for the three races in MALAYSIA only.
Judy Leese March 12, 2007 6:14 am

Bernard, I like the news you gave FH…..hehehe….no need to explain why lah!
just me March 12, 2007 6:50 am

Late first pregnancy is a risk factor? What age is considered late?
Bengbeng March 12, 2007 8:07 am

Two significant women in my life died of breast cancer before I was seven. Even now I always worry my wife will get it.Can I buy something or not buy something for the home to reduce the risk she will get it? e.g. supplements, dietary materials etc.
yenjai.net March 12, 2007 8:36 am

Wow. Again giving a talk in Manderin? Salute salute
Bernard March 12, 2007 12:08 pm

Judy, ok.. i won’t ask why.
But, just yesterday I saw a forty-something-year-old lady with a highly suspicious lump. Her cup-size was probably “A”.

just me, having the first full-term pregnancy after the age of 30 is a risk factor.

Try this out.

Bengbeng, there are modifiable and and non-modifiable risk factors. You can find a good write up on risk factors on the American Cancer Society site.

In practical terms… reduce the risk by maintaining a healthy weight and leading a physically active lifestyle. Limit alcohol intake.

If there is a high risk, i.e. personal history of breast cancer before, the risk to the other breast is reduced by taking tamoxifen (hormonal therapy).

Oestrogen-containing hormonal replacement therapy increases the risk a bit. There is a place for HRT but you have to be aware of the risk.

On the other hand… early detection saves lives. Screening by mammography saves lives.

yenjai, if I talk about other subjects you might vomit blood listening to it. Hehe.
Bernard March 12, 2007 12:37 pm

Here’s another report:
just me March 12, 2007 1:23 pm

A colleague of mine, in her late early 50’s, was detected with breast cancer 2 years ago.She exercises regularly and eats a healthy diet. No history of it in family.
She is just plain unlucky?
eve March 12, 2007 2:36 pm

fuiyohh….asyik terpapar muka engko kat surat khabar je?….femes liao la…itu certificate of appreciation oso dah melambak kat rumah…kekekkekekke…
Bengbeng March 12, 2007 2:42 pm

This is highly inappropriate but …recently my son found a new playmate. He is a nice boy with nice language and from a good family. I came back for lunch today and found them playing burning papers in the garden with lighters. If I inform his mother, his mother would never let him come again. That would be too cruel to my son. What should I do?

He is 10 years old. I tried explaining to them both but they don’t seem to understand the danger. He is like my son’s hero.

What do you suggest i do?
Bengbeng March 12, 2007 2:46 pm

And sorry, thanks for the medical reply. I am just so….today. I had to take leave after lunch coz i can’t leave them alone. I can’t find a babysitter nor do i trust them alone. to them it is jus play play play
Bernard March 12, 2007 4:01 pm

just me, anyone who has it is plain unlucky.

But after winning the battle, she is plainly stronger for it.

eve, ngko nak ke? Mai lah ambik.

Bengbeng, i don’t understand why his mother would not let him come if you informed her of it. She should be happy that he’s getting enough supervision whilst he is at your house.

However, I think that his mother should be told no matter what. I DEFINITELY would like to know if my son does anything naughty at his friend’s house.

Usually the lesson on the danger of fire might be illustrated with a demonstration. Or a video or photos of children who got burned. There are photos of those on the net.

Anyway, even if they’re aware of the danger of fire, I don’t think that it’s ok to leave them alone until they demonstrate some amount of responsibility and fear of other danger as well.

What do the other parents think?
chelsea March 12, 2007 7:33 pm

Hmmm…*sighs*…I think I’m at higher risk of breast cancer…of the cup sizes and late 30s pregnancy…=(
Bengbeng March 12, 2007 7:36 pm

Thank you. Thank you very much.
just me March 12, 2007 7:41 pm

Beng Beng,
Definitely to tell boy’s mother. And NO playing with fire!

It just needs a spark to get things out of hand.
By the way, how old is your son?
liling March 12, 2007 8:26 pm

Would a mammogram done yearly after the age of 34 be encouraged?
Bernard March 12, 2007 11:50 pm

Chelsea, just gotta be vigilant.

liling, mammogram yearly after 40 would be appropriate for the general population.
Judy Leese March 14, 2007 2:05 am

Bernard, bearer of no good news.

Ok lah, I excuse you for now cos all truths need to be told.

Kam sia.
yenjai.net March 14, 2007 8:40 am

bengbeng, you should definitely tell the other parent.
I would like to know, if my son behave that way.

And yes, they are not to be left alone in the house
yenjai.net March 14, 2007 8:41 am

Just out of curiosity, Bernard, those that attend, are they mostly above 35, or quite a number of them under 35?
Bernard March 14, 2007 8:50 am

Judy, yes. Anyway, use your NHS screening program. It’s free and convenient.

Usually I don’t tell the gravity of the problem (the bad news) until the pathology report comes back in a few days.

yenjai, they’re mostly above 35. There were a few under-35s there.