Brunei's Local News - Brudirect.com

Bandar Seri Begawan - Fear, shame, ignorance and lack of social acceptance and support are among the reasons why most breast cancer patients were diagnosed with the disease at the later stages.

Out of all the Bruneian women who have breast cancer, some 60 per cent were only diagnosed as having the disease during the third stage of the disease. At five years, the chance of survival at the third stage is between 46 and 49 per cent.

Breast cancer is also the most deadly type of cancer among local women. In 2006, it claimed the lives of 20 women.

The death toll caused by all types of cancer was 112 during that year.

These facts were among the highlights of a talk on breast cancer that was held in conjunction with the opening of the new Health Promotion

Centre yesterday to raise public awareness of the disease.

The presenter was Dr Teo Lee Na, Senior Medical Officer at Oncologist Division, RIPAS Hospital.

Dr Teo said the causes of the breast cancer are generally unknown but risk factors of having the disease are age, menstrual history, race, reproductive history and so on. Early detection of the disease can save the cancer patient's life.

The best ways to fight the disease is to have breast self-examination regularly in order to detect any symptoms of the disease such as changes in the size, shape and tenderness of breast and the presence of lumps early on.

Dr Teo said that women are likely to have at least one lump forming in their breast during their lifetime and almost 80 per cent of lumps are not cancerous, it is still best for these women to check the lump with medical personnel even if it does not case any pain.

Medical personnel will further assess the lump, which include doing clinical assessment, breast ultrasound and biopsy.

Dr Teo said breast cancer is commonly suffered by the Amen in their 50s and 60s in the Western countries but for Brunei like the rest of Asian countries, the age group is younger in their 40s) which may be due to genetic reasons.

The age trend among the women having breast cancer in Brunei is getting younger with the youngest being only 21 years old.

"Women should have regular breast self-examinations (once a month) when they reach 18 and they must be aware of the disease as early as possible so that they already know about their body," Dr Teo advised.

Currently, the number of breast cancer cases received by the health institution is about 35 women every year.

Men are not excluded from suffering from the disease. Currently, there five patients undergoing treatment.

Several initiatives have been started in creating awareness among women regarding breast cancer. "There is a Breast Support Group in Brunei, which provides breast cancer awareness activities such as holding roadshow at schools," said Dr Teo.

Dr Teo said the Breast Support Group that comprises former breast cancer patients supports breast cancer patients morally and emotionally.

Dr Teo added the Ministry of Health also uses the latest equipment in breast cancer treatment.

The talk also highlighted some of the latest procedures in breast cancer treatment. There was also a question-and-answer session, which was fully utilised by about 175 participants from schools, the public and non-governmental agencies. -- Courtesy of Borneo Bulletin