Kuala Lumpur:Women are being urged to undergo regular breast cancer screenings to facilitate early detection, as over 50% of breast cancer cases in Malaysia are diagnosed at advanced stages three and four.

According to BERNAMA News Agency, Datuk Seri Dr Wan Azizah Wan Ismail, Member of Parliament for Bandar Tun Razak, emphasized the importance of early detection, noting that the survival rate could reach 90% if the disease is identified at an early stage, such as stages one and two. She mentioned that fear and stigma around cancer screenings have deterred some women from regular check-ups.

Speaking at the Madani Health Carnival for the Bandar Tun Razak parliamentary constituency in conjunction with Breast Cancer Awareness Month 2026 at the Kuala Lumpur City Hall Training Institute, Dr Wan Azizah, who is also the Prime Minister's wife, highlighted concerns over rising breast cancer cases. Data from the Malaysian National Cancer Registry (MNCR) indicated an increase from 18,206 cases between 2007 and 2011 to 29,534 cases from 2017 to 2021.

Dr Wan Azizah urged women to get screened and undergo thorough examinations, stressing the importance of health as a trust to be maintained. She noted that the Health Ministry has implemented strategies that cover prevention, early detection, diagnosis, treatment, and post-treatment support. The National Population and Family Development Board (LPPKN) offers subsidized mammogram programs, including free screenings for Malaysian women aged 40 to 70 from households earning less than RM10,000 a month.

Additionally, Dr Wan Azizah announced the launch of the Jelajah Kasih Madani Bandar Tun Razak, which provides access to basic healthcare services through Klinik Wakaf An-Nur Kasih (KWANK). These services include screenings for blood pressure, diabetes, high cholesterol, physical health consultations, eye examinations, and referrals to specialists. The carnival, a collaboration between the parliamentary constituency, the Women, Family and Community Development Ministry (KPWKM), and LPPKN, aims to bring healthcare services directly to People's Housing Programme (PPR) communities, especially the B40 group.

Dr Wan Azizah also visited firefighter Mohd Firdaus Ibrahim and his family, whose seven-month-old daughter, Nur Farisha Sofia Ramadhani, is suffering from omphalocele major and underdeveloped lungs.