Overview of Breast Cancer in Malaysian Women: A Problem with Late Diagnosis

Abstract

Breast cancer is the most common cancer among Malaysian women. There is a marked geographical difference in the worldwide incidence of breast cancer, with a higher incidence in developed countries compared to developing countries. From 1998 to 2001, new cases of breast cancer presenting to the breast clinics at Hospital Kuala Lumpur and University Malaya Medical Centre, Malaysia, were reviewed; the race, age and stage at presentation were analysed. Of 774 cases seen in Hospital Kuala Lumpur, only 5.2% (40/774) were impalpable breast cancers diagnosed on mammography. The prevalent age group was 40 to 49 years, and the median age was 50 years. The average size of the tumour was 5.4 cm in diameter. Malay women appear to have larger tumours and a later stage at presentation than other ethnic groups; 50% to 60% were in late stages (Stages 3 and 4). During the same period, 752 new cases of breast cancer were seen in the University Malaya Medical Centre. The average tumour size was 4.2 cm, and 30% to 40% were in late stages. The age incidence was similar. The delay in presentation of breast cancer was attributed to a strong belief in traditional medicine, the negative perception of the disease, poverty and poor education, coupled with fear and denial. A prospective, population-based study is required to determine the demographic pattern of breast cancer and the factors delaying presentation. These findings will have important implications in future programmes to promote the early detection of breast cancer, as well as in understanding geographical as well as racial variations in the incidence of breast cancer.

Survival Rates of Cervical Cancer Patients in Malaysia

“…It is also noted that Malays tend to seek treatment at a later stage of the cancer and presented with large tumours (Wong et al, 2009;Abdullah et al, 2013b). This behaviour was also observed among Malay patients with breast cancer (Hisham and Yip, 2004).…”

A nationwide analysis of incidence and outcome of breast cancer in the country of Surinam, during 1994–2003

“…The rise in BC incidence over the past decades is seen worldwide [9,10] and has been mostly correlated with changes in reproductive factors. This may to a large degree account for the lower BC incidence in developing countries versus the western world [11,12]. Although increasing, the mean age at first birth in Surinam is still low at 21 years [5], compared to over 28 years in most western European countries [13].…”

“…The median age at BC diagnosis was lower than the median age in the western world, albeit being fairly high compared to other low-income countries, underlining the in-between state of development of Surinam society [11,12,14]. A confounding factor could be the relatively low life expectancy of women in Surinam (69 years at birth [5], versus 80 in the USA [6]), especially in view of the fact that 43% of new BC cases in the USA are diagnosed in women older than 65 years.…”

Validation of Electrical Impedance Tomography Qualitative and Quantitative Values and Comparison of the Numeric Pain Distress Score against Mammography

“…The classification is based on recommendations whereby any suspicious abnormalities captured during screening mammography requires further imaging diagnostically or histologic analysis whenever surgeons find necessary (Hisham and Yip, 2004;Sasser et al, 2005).…”

“…Malaysia in the other hand is still at the contrast scale of those countries (Binns et al, 2013). However, with 1 in 20 women in the country develops breast cancer in their lifetime, urgent measures should be taken to reduce the morbidity and mortality caused by the disease (Hisham and Yip, 2004). The malignancy results in significant economic burden to our country due to costly medical treatment and productivity losses (Sasser et al, 2005).…”