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.