Jaclyn Victor participates in walk to keep abreast of disease

Some 5,000 people donned pink T-shirts and walked 3km to raise awareness of breast cancer and early detection yesterday.

Among the participants were the country’s first astronaut Datuk Dr Sheikh Muszaphar Shukor and local celebrities including Syafinaz Selamat, Nasha Aziz and Jaclyn Victor.

Women, Family and Community Development Minister Datuk Dr Ng Yen Yen, who launched the event at Taman Tasik Titiwangsa, planned to have mammogram mobile clinics in rural areas to increase breast cancer awareness.

“It is estimated that one in 19 women here are at risk of getting breast cancer in their lifetime. Even men are susceptible, although in small numbers.

“Women need to overcome their fear of getting checked as early treatment of breast cancer can help save lives,” she said.

Dr Ng encouraged women to regularly examine themselves and to visit the ministry’s clinics for a subsidised mammogram check for those above 40-years-old.

“From May 2007 until June this year, 5,217 women underwent our mammogram check, of which 368 were highly suspicious and 20 were positively diagnosed,” she added.

Breast cancer survivor and mountain climbing enthusiast Rene’e Aziz Ahmad said one must seek professional medical treatment and not just rely on traditional healing.

“Life is not over just because one gets diagnosed with breast cancer as it can be prevented if detected early,” said Rene’e who was diagnosed seven years ago.

Net proceeds from the Avon Walk Around The World for Breast Cancer (WAWBC), totalling RM50,000, was donated to the Pride Foundation, a charity body aimed at raising awareness and improving accessibility to treatment.

This is Malaysia’s first such event which is already held annually in more than 50 countries.