Over 5 percent of women in Malaysia at risk of breast cancer

One in 19 women in Malaysia are at risk of getting breast cancer.

Medical officer at the Tuanku Fauziah Hospital (HTF) here, Dr Norin Azna Shamsuddin said once a woman turns 20, she would be at risk of contracting the deadly disease.

"The actual cause of this cancer is unclear, but various genetic and environment-related factors as well as the way of life have been identified.

"Since existing treatments are not 100 percent effective, early detection can save your life," she said after giving a talk on 'Awareness of Breast Cancer' at Istana Arau here today.

Also present were the Raja Perempuan of Perlis Tuanku Tengku Fauziah Tengku Abdul Rashid, the Raja Muda of Perlis Tuanku Syed Faizuddin Putra Jamalullail and Raja Puan Muda of Perlis Tuanku Hajah Lailatul Shahreen Akashah Khalil.

Norin Azna said women should take the special screening tests such as mammograms and pap smears for early detection of the disease.