Draft Speech Text

Yang Berbahagia Tan Sri Napsiah Omar

Chairman of the National Population and Family Planning Board

Pink October Media Launch

16 October 2014

 

 

 

(SALUTATION)

 

Bismillahirahmanirahhim.   Assalamualaikum warahmatullahiwabarakatuh.

 

Mr. Andrew Brien, Chief Executive Officer and Executive Director of Suria KLCC Sdn Bhd

 

Mr. Francis Tan, Chief Operating Officer of Suria KLCC Sdn Bhd

 

Puan Farahida Mohd Farid, General Manager of the National Cancer Council

 

Members of the media

 

Ladies and gentlemen

 

 

It gives me great pleasure to be a part of this momentous occasion with our wonderful partners, Alamanda Shopping Mall and The National Cancer Council in conjunction with the Breast Cancer Awareness month, dedicated to increase awareness of the disease.   This being the first collaboration between The National Population and Family Planning Board and Alamanda Shopping Mall is indeed a milestone for us.   For those of you who are unfamiliar with LPPKN or The National Population and Family Planning Board, we are one of the agencies under the purview of Ministry of Women, Family and Community Development.    Our main role is to provide services to the public in the areas of population, family development and human reproduction.    We identify and promote researches and studies on these three key areas, including medical and biomedical studies.  About 12 months ago at the presentation of budget 2013, the government announced its commitment towards women’s health and well-being.  Nine million ringgit had been set aside for mammogram screening, free breast prostheses and special brassiere for breast cancer patients.  We estimated about 8,000 breast cancer patients who will benefit from this initiative. It is progressing well as we have screened over xxxx women across Malaysia.  Apart from that, the government had also purchased four special buses for the implementation of the Mobile Family Centre which provides advisory services related to family matters, dietary requirements, screening for chronic diseases and testing for glucose and cholesterol.   These buses are also utilized for mammogram screening and pap smear test in residential areas throughout the country. 

 

Ladies and gentlemen,
Breast cancer is the most common cancer among Malaysian women and the number one cause for cancer deaths in the country.   About one in 20 women in this country are at risk, compared to one in eight in Europe and the United States. According to the National Cancer Registry report in 2007, the top five leading cancers among the general population in Malaysia are breast at 18.1%, head and neck at 13.2%, colorectal at 12.3%, trachea and bronchus at 10.2%, and cervix at 4.6%. The report further indicated that breast cancer formed 31.3% of newly diagnosed cancer cases among women during the period between 2003-2005.  In many developed nations, the disease is prevalent among older women but in Malaysia, the first and latest survey reveals that 52.3% of breast cancer cases are found among women below 50 years of age.     Ladies and gentlemen,

Studies have shown that screening mammography with or without clinical breast examination may decrease the mortality of breast cancer. A mammogram can detect small cancerous lumps as well as cancer in situ (abnormal cells about to form cancer), which may be missed in a clinical examination. A mammogram is recommended for women above the age of 50 years. For high-risk women (with family history) screening is advisable at an earlier age between 40 years to 49 years old.

 

 

Mammography is advisable every one to two years but for younger women below the age of 35, ultra sound scan of the breast may be helpful for patients with symptoms.  Starting today till 17 October between 10am till 5pm, our registration booth for mammogram is opened to all women aged 40 and above. So I urge all ladies who are above 40 years who are here today to take this opportunity and register for a free mammogram screening.

Ladies and gentlemen, The good news is breast cancer is a curable disease if detected early. Clinical or breast self-examination combined with mammography screening can detect the disease.   With appropriate treatment, cure rates are high.   For more information about treatment, self examination and other matters related to breast cancer, do visit the National Population and Family Planning Board exhibition at this centre court from today till Saturday, 19 October.  Among other activities that we have put in place throughout the four days include mamacare massage, blood pressure check up, BMI test, glucose test, cholesterol test, and stress test.    All these     services are available from 10am till 5pm,  while the family development booth is open from 10am till 10pm.    Ladies and gentlemen, Once again I would like to express my sincere gratitude to Alamanda shopping centre for this partnership.  Our long-term mission is to provide breast cancer education and early detection services to women at community outreach across the nation.  As an agency dedicated to women’s health and well-being, we will continue to educate women about the importance of early detection and informing them about resources that are available within their community.   Please take full advantage of the services that we provide throughout the next four days at Alamanda.   Share the inspiring stories of breast cancer survivors who will be joining us later today and information that you may gather from our booths.  Thank you.   Wassalamualaikum warahmatullahibarakatuh.