Ladies, stay safe from Covid-19 but don't delay your mammogram

The success of cancer treatment depends a lot on timing: the earlier the cancer is diagnosed and treated, the better the survival rate. Photos: National Cancer Society Malaysia

At the start of the Covid-19 pandemic, based on studies done in Wuhan, China and Italy, women were advised to hold off on going for breast cancer screenings. This was not just to prioritise Covid-19 treatment but also because findings showed that cancer patients were at a higher risk of contracting and dying from the coronavirus.

But now that the spread of the virus seems to be contained and the country is in the recovery phase of the movement control order, the National Cancer Society Malaysia (NCSM) is urging women to get their breasts screened because the outcome of a cancer diagnosis very much depends on timing: the earlier it is detected and treated, the higher chances of recovery.