KUCHING, Oct 25 — The risk of Malaysian women developing breast cancer has risen to one in 23, compared with one in 27 previously, says Women, Family and Community Development Minister Datuk Seri Nancy Shukri.

She said that based on the Malaysian National Cancer Registry Report for 2012-2016 and 2017-2021, breast cancer remains the most common cancer among women in the country.

“More concerning, the National Health and Morbidity Survey (NHMS) 2023 found that 71 per cent of women aged 40 and above have never undergone a mammogram, while 46 per cent do not practise breast self-examination.

“This low screening rate complicates early detection efforts, even though the survival rate for patients detected at an early stage can reach 95 per cent,” she said at the Sarawak state-level Breast Cancer Awareness Month event here today.