Did you know that breast cancer is the most common form of cancer affecting women in Malaysia? According to the Breast Cancer Foundation, about one in 19 women in this country is at risk of this disease, compared with one in eight in Europe and the United States.
Breast cancer occurs when the cells in milk-producing glands or the ducts become abnormal and divide uncontrollably. These abnormal cells begin to invade the surrounding breast tissue and may eventually spread via blood vessels and lymphatic channels to the lymph nodes, lungs, bones, brain and liver.
While incidences of this disease are more common in postmenopausal women, breast cancer has also been known to occur in younger people. Indeed, research from Universiti Putra Malaysia has shown that 13.6% of women in Malaysia are diagnosed with breast cancer before age 40, in contrast to the US, where the figure stands at 5%.
Screening can help detect cancers at an earlier stage, which increases the odds of effective treatment and recovery. Mammograms are the best way to screen for breast cancer, with doctors recommending that women go for screenings every two years if they are 50 and above.
That said, women have different risks of developing breast cancer. Factors such as a family history of the disease mean certain women are more at risk than others, which is why screenings are essential.
It should also be noted that breast cancer does not affect only women: men, too, are at risk of developing the disease. Indeed, cancer can potentially develop wherever breast tissue is present on an individual, regardless of whether they are male or female.
Take the survey
With this in mind, the Institute for Clinical Research under the health ministry is undertaking a survey on messages that encourage Malaysian women to undergo breast cancer screenings.
What types of messaging appeals to you the most when it comes to screening? And what is your preferred day, time, and platform for receiving such messages?
Titled “Appeal Preferences in Breast Cancer Screening Health Messages: A Cross-Sectional Study in Malaysia”, the research also aims to identify the association between socio-demographics and the preference for such health messaging.
The survey is open to all Malaysian women aged 18 and above, and runs until March or until the researchers meet their target of 1,063 respondents.
To take part in this survey, click on this link or scan the code in the poster above. Participation is voluntary and anonymous, and no personal details will be collected.