Breast Cancer
The most common cancer and the number one cause of cancer deaths amongst women in Malaysia is breast cancer.
Breast cancer is the result of an uncontrolled growth of cells within the breast tissue. If not detected and treated promptly, breast cancer can metastasise, spreading to the lymph glands and other parts of the body including the lungs, bones and liver.

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Who is at risk?
All women above 20 are at risk of developing breast cancer. There are a number of risk factors that have been identified.

	Age - the risk of developing breast cancer does increase with age. In fact, 70% of breast cancers occur in women aged 50 and above.
	A family history of breast cancer - women who have a mother, sister or daughter who developed breast cancer before the age of 50 are at a higher risk. This risk is further heightened if a woman has more than one immediate family member who has  breast cancer.
	Previous history of breast cancer - women who have already been treated for cancer in one breast have an increased risk of developing cancer in the other breast.
	Early menstruation (before age 12 ) or late menopause (after age 50).
	Never having a full-term pregnancy or giving birth after age 30.
	Not having breast-fed
	High fat diet
	Low fibre diet
	Being obese in post-menopausal years
	Excessive alcohol consumption

Breast self-examination (BSE) - Through BSE, you familiarise yourself with your breast and this makes it easier for you to notice any changes. It is recommended for women above age 35 and should be done once a month, between the 7th and 10th day after the start of menstruation. For non-menstruating women, BSE should be done at the same time every month. For women above 35 its is advisable to be examined by a docter every year.

Reporting of breast changes - Any unusual changes to your breast, even after a mammogram, should be reported to a doctor as they may be an early warning sign. This includes the symptoms listed below.

Breast examination by a doctor - For women over age 35 and above, an annual breast examination by a doctor is recommended. If you are going for a mammogram, it would be a good idea to schedule a breast examination by a doctor.

Mammography (X-ray of the breast) - This method can detect breast cancer even before any lumps can be felt. It is especially useful for women between the ages of 50 and 69, and it is recommended that a mammogram should be scheduled once every 2 years. For younger women, because their breast tissue is more dense, the accuracy of a mammogram becomes less certain.

A lump in your breast that persists after your period.

Bleeding or discharge from the nipple.

A change in the shape of the breast.

Puckering or dimpling of the skin of the breast.

New retraction (pulling in) of the nipple.

Surgery - This removes the cancer and some surrounding normal tissue to ensure a margin of safety. There are two ways of doing this:
. Lumpectomy - only a small or affected section of the breast is removed.
. Mastectomy - here, all the breast tissue is removed. With this type of treatment, a woman can opt to have a breast reconstruction to surgically rebuild the berast.

Radiotherapy - High-powered x-ray waves are directed at the cancer site and surrounding tissue to help destroy any remaining cancer cells.

Chemotherapy - This requires the use of drugs or hormonal therapy to help destroy any remaining cancer cells.