Supporting the community with free screenings

IN ASIAN cultures, some conversations are just off-limits. Growing up, certain topics, especially those about our bodies or illnesses, are often viewed as taboo. There’s always that hesitation, even when it comes to discussing health.

This silence often stops people from seeking medical advice when it matters most. And with breast cancer, the silence can be deadly.

Breast cancer is a major health issue for women in Malaysia, yet it’s rarely discussed. It still carries a stigma that plagues women today, and as such, prevents them from seeking early detection and treatment.

The Malaysian National Cancer Registry Report (2017-2021) shows that sadly, 50.5% of women diagnosed with breast cancer only discovered it at stages three and four.

Ray of hope

To raise awareness and provide much-needed early screenings, Columbia Asia Hospital Cheras (CAH-C), in partnership with Fujifilm Malaysia Sdn Bhd, recently hosted the PinKTober Charity event.

This special occasion, held during Breast Cancer Awareness Month, provided women from the B40 community with free mammograms and ultrasound screenings – a move aimed at aiding those with financial barriers to prioritse their health.

Latest statistics by the Health Ministry show that one in 23 women in Malaysia is at risk of developing breast cancer.

Columbia Asia Hospital (Region 1) regional chief executive officer Engku Marina Engku Hatim calls this “a sobering fact”.

Far too often, she said, women-especially those from the B40 category are burdened with multiple life commitments and neglect their health.

“We want to ensure that all women, regardless of their socio-economic status, understand

that their health comes first,” she remarked.

With Fujifilm Malaysia’s generous RM20,000 sponsorship, 100 women aged 40 and above from the township of Balakong, Selangor received vouchers for these essential tests.

Fujifilm Malaysia’s managing director Kensuke Aragane said the company is proud to support the community’s health and well-being through the free screenings.

“We believe that access to quality healthcare is essential for everyone, and we are committed to making a positive impact on the lives of Malaysians.

“We hope that these screenings will help to identify potential health issues early and

encourage preventive care,” he added.

Screening saves lives

The 2023 National Health and Morbidity Survey found that 71% of women aged 40 and above had never undergone a mammogram screening.

Engku Marina pointed out that this low uptake of screening includes a lack of awareness, or even the fear of diagnosis.

One of the biggest hurdles in encouraging women to go for mammograms, she added, is the fear of the procedure itself – one which many associate with pain or discomfort.

However, she says, advancements in medical technology have made mammograms far less intimidating than they once were.

She noted that mammogram machines in the past used to be manually operated, causing great discomfort. The new digital mammogram systems of today however, renders the process less painful for patients, and yields faster acquisitions.

The vouchers were distributed to women of the B40 community by Balakong assemblyman Wayne Ong Chun Wei (back row, fifth from left) at the event. PinKTober is part of Fujifilm’s collaborative corporate social responsibility (CSR) efforts with CAH-C.

Fujifilm – world renowned for their innovation and imaging expertise, has long played a role in revolutionising this technology.

Their state-of-the-art digital mammography systems – introduced to Malaysia in 2018, are built to make screenings more comfortable and efficient, helping to alleviate fears associated with the process.

These cutting-edge machines have been installed in various hospitals across Malaysia, including CAH-C.

Aragane shared that Fujifilm Malaysia conducted a similar free screening event last year, inviting a total of 200 women from the B40 category.

“Initially, many of them believed that mammogram screenings would be uncomfortable and painful. However, after experiencing it firsthand, they found the procedure to be far less painful than expected,” he said.

“As the brand manufacturer, Fujifilm has a responsibility to encourage women to undergo pain-free screenings. This is our mission,” he stressed.