FINANCIAL constraints and fear are among the reasons why women put off detection or treatment for breast cancer in Sabah, said a cancer survivor-turned-advocate.
Annie Chin, who has been a survivor for 16 years, said when she counsels newly diagnosed patients, she often sees many reasons why women delay seeking help.
“Some are frightened of hearing the word ‘cancer’. Some are afraid of surgery, chemotherapy or losing their hair. Others worry about their children, their husband, their work and how the diagnosis will affect their family,” she said.
“For some patients, the biggest concern is financial because cancer treatment can be a long and costly journey, and this can create a great deal of anxiety, especially for families who are already struggling financially,” she explained.
Chin said there are also women who notice a change in their breast but choose to wait and see whether it will go away.
Some may think that because there is no pain, it cannot be serious, she said, while others may be hesitant or embarrassed to seek medical attention.
For women living in rural or remote areas, distance and access to healthcare services can add another barrier.
“So, sometimes it is not that women have never heard about breast cancer. They have heard the message, but fear, financial concerns, family responsibilities and other barriers prevent them from taking the next step,” said Chin.
As the current senior manager of Sabah Kinabalu Pink Ribbon (SKPR), a non-governmental organisation focused on helping cancer patients and survivors, she vividly recalls her own diagnosis, which led to a double mastectomy.
She remembered the shock, followed by an aftershock that sent her into a wave of fear and heartache. She cried uncontrollably when she told her brother about it.
The multiple surgeries and chemotherapy sessions that followed were not easy. Chin lost her appetite, her weight and her hair, among other things.
However, she will forever be grateful to her elderly mother, who never left her side, cooking for her, making her feel less uncomfortable, providing moral support and simply being present.
She also took up qi gong and was introduced to the Kinabalu Pink Ribbon community, which gave her much-needed support to continue fighting.
“The unconditional support and love from my other family members, my aunt and her family, close friends, and support from classmates, teachers and wonderful members from Kinabalu Pink Ribbon certainly helped me ride through this difficult period,” said Chin.
“After chemotherapy, I continued to make my own fruit and vegetable juice every day, had regular fresh vegetable salad (something I rarely did in the past), my daily stroll at Bukit Padang and attended qi gong class several times a week,” she shared.
Now, she counsels newly diagnosed breast cancer patients referred to the Kinabalu Pink Ribbon patient support group.
“From my experience, I would say that the challenge in Sabah today is not simply that awareness about breast cancer is low, it’s just that awareness does not always translate into action,” Chin said.
“We have been conducting awareness campaigns and community outreach for many years. More people are now aware that breast cancer can be detected early and treatment is important,” she said.
She believes awareness efforts need to go beyond simply telling women to “go for screening”. They must also create an environment where women feel safe to come forward, ask questions and seek help without fear or shame.
Chin said that, as a survivor herself, she understands the fear that comes with a cancer diagnosis.
“But I also want newly diagnosed patients to know that a cancer diagnosis does not mean that life has ended. With appropriate treatment, support and a positive mindset, there is always hope,” she said.
In conjunction with Pink October, the breast cancer awareness month, she urged women – and men – to work together as a community to turn awareness into action, and fear into courage.
“My message to women this October is simple: know your body, don’t ignore changes, don’t be afraid to seek medical advice, and if you are due for screening, don’t keep postponing it. Early detection and timely treatment can make a difference,” Chin advised.
