Cervical cancer third highest cancer among M’sian women

LABUAN: Cervical cancer cases form the third highest number recorded among the types of cancer afflicting women in this country, with a low percentage of them having undergone the pap smear test.

Besides breast and ovarian cancer, cervical cancer was a major health threat to women in this country, said Deputy Women, Family and Community Development Minister Datuk Siti Zailah Mohd Yusoff said.

“The government has allocated RM11.5mil as announced in Budget 2022 for conducting breast and cervical cancer screening and tests nationwide,” she said to reporters after the handing-out of mammogram and HPV DNA test vouchers from LPPKN Labuan for 100 women who were represented by various NGOs.

This was in conjunction with the Cervical Cancer Awareness Week 2022 celebration at Desa Tunas Hijau here yesterday.

Siti Zailah also noted that 80% of women in this country had not undergone mammogram screening with 34.1 cases per 100,000 women facing the risk of having breast cancer.

“I hope the women in this country respond to the government’s call for them to undergo early screening through the various programmes provided.

“Don’t wait until the condition is critical to go for screening. Instead, take the opportunity given to you,” she added. — Bernama