Breast cancer on rise in Malaysia

Breast cancer on rise in Malaysia

KUALA LUMPUR (DPA): More Malaysian women are being diagnosed
with breast cancer in Malaysia due to social changes and greater
urbanization in the country, news reports said Monday.

Professor Yip Cheng Har, who is one of Malaysia's leading
experts on breast cancer, said there was a rapid rise of cases
among Malaysian women in recent years, with half of the victims
below 50 years.

The New Straits Times daily said 1,707 women died of breast
cancer in Malaysia last year, compared to less than 200 in 1989.

New cases of breast cancer referred to the University of
Malaya's Medical Centre, where Yip is head of surgery, also saw
180 cases last year against 70 in 1993.

"Breast cancer is a disease of the urban society, with a
higher incidence in developed countries than developing
countries," she said.

She added that many Malaysian women only sought treatment in
the late stages of the disease because they feared losing their
breasts if they were diagnosed early.

Official figures on the actual number of deaths caused by
breast cancer were also hard to compile as only a third of all
deaths in Malaysia were properly certified by doctors, she said.