316 Sabah breast cancer cases: Most detected at stage three and four last year

Kota Kinabalu: Sabah women are encouraged to get screened regularly as 53.48 per cent of breast cancer cases were found at an advanced stage.

“The latest data from the Queen Elizabeth Hospital II’s Pink Ribbon Centre shows 316 women in Sabah were diagnosed with breast cancer in 2025, compared with 285 patients in 2022,” said State Women, Health and People’s Wellbeing Minister Datuk Julita Majungki.

“Of this number, 53.48 per cent were detected at stage three and four,” she said when officiating the State-level Breast Cancer Awareness Month Celebration 2026 at the Sabah International Convention Centre, here, Saturday.

Her speech was delivered by the Ministry’s Permanent Secretary Datuk Maria Chong.

“At this stage, treatment becomes more challenging because the cancer has already spread. This situation calls on us to be more alert and proactive,” Julita said.

She said breast cancer is the highest cancer in Malaysia, and one in 23 women is at risk, based on the Malaysian National Cancer Registry Report for 2017 to 2021.

“Do breast self-examination, clinical breast examination and mammogram tests regularly. It is the best way to detect the disease early and save lives,” she said.

She said a mammogram can costs between RM200 and RM300 at private hospitals in Malaysia.

“The Mammogram Subsidy Programme run by National Population and Family Development Board (LPPKN) since 2009 is one of the government’s initiatives to help women undergo breast cancer screening through free mammogram tests.

“Cancer detection is our shared responsibility. I very much hope men will also play an active role in encouraging their wives, mothers and other women in the family to come forward for screening,” she said.

She said all LPPKN facilities had been made available and urged the public to use the chance to get free mammogram tests.

“Our objective today is to build a support network connecting families and carers of breast cancer fighters. We will also carry out screening focused on high-risk groups,” she said, pointing out that the celebration carried the theme “Together We Rise, Standing Strong with Breast Cancer Fighters and Families”.

“The physical and emotional content of this programme is very important to reduce the emotional burden of carers and rebuild the confidence of survivors after treatment.

“We want to see more women coming forward for early screening, fewer late diagnoses and strong health data monitoring to support women’s health policy in Sabah that benefits all women,” she said.

In addition to free mammogram screening, the event jointly organised by the Ministry, LPPKN Sabah and the QEH II Pink Ribbon Centre also featured talks on recovery, nutrition, healing from trauma and breast cancer knowledge, as well as a health forum and group activities.

“I record my sincere appreciation to LPPKN and our key strategic partner, the QEH II Pink Ribbon Centre, for their strong commitment in making this meaningful programme a success,” Julita said.

Present were LPPKN Sabah Director Shahriah Saharom and QEH II Director Dr Ferro Firdaus Ibrahim, among others.