Need to raise awareness on early breast cancer detection

PENAMPANG: Sabahans must be made aware of the importance of early breast cancer detection, United Pasokmomogun KadazanDusun Murut Organisation (Upko) deputy president Datuk Dr Donald Mojuntin.

He said early detection was the key to surviving breast cancer, thus more people should be informed about it.

Speaking at the closing ceremony of Upko Penampang Breast Cancer Awareness Programme, Mojuntin said breast cancer was still the deadliest disease for women in Malaysia.

“Our hospitals have high tech machines that can detect cancer.

“If we can detect it early, we can cure it,” Mojuntin, who is also Upko Penampang chief said.

“Once a person has reached the fourth stage of cancer, there is only less than 20 per cent chance for that person to survive,” he added.

The event was organised by Upko Penampang Komulakan and Wanita wings at ITCC Mall yesterday.

Also present in the event was Upko Penampang Komulakan chief Caesar Mandela Malakun.

“We in the Komulakan movement will ensure that more awareness will be spread among the people of Penampang and Sabah as a whole,” Mandela said.

“We are well aware that breast cancer is not something that is too distant from us. Even in Penampang we have breast cancer patients.

“The Komulakan fully supports awareness programmes such as this one,” he added.