Hospital detects breast cancer in six-year-old

Hospital Raja Perempuan Zainab II (HRPZII) has detected breast cancer in a six-year-old girl.

HRPZII Breast and Endocrine consultant surgeon and department head Dr Imi Sairi Ab Hadi said the patient from Pantai Cahaya Bulan here was diagnosed with a lump measuring two centimetres on her breast in October last year.

"An operation was done to remove the lump and she is now required to receive treatment every month.

"Nevertheless we believe it can be treated as it is still at the first stage and possibly due to a genetic factor," he told reporters here, Wednesday.

He said breast cancer is the leading cause of death among women in Malaysia, but in Kelantan breast cancer based on both genders, is only the second after colon cancer.

Dr Imi Sairi said there were 2,262 cancer cases in HRPZII's records, with breast cancer numbering the highest at 593, followed by colon cancer (262), ovarian cancer (183) and other cancers such as thyroid, cervical and leukemia.

"Breast cancer can also afflict men but most male patients here either suffer from colon cancer or prostate cancer," he said.

He said almost 50 per cent of cancer patients in the state only sought treatment at the hospital after the disease had turned chronic, at stage three and stage four.