GELANG PATAH – The Persatuan Keluarga Polis (PERKEP), together with the Youth Association of Nusa Perintis, District Health Office, Breast Cancer Support Group of Johor Bahru (BCSG-JB) and the Community Policing of Nusa Perintis organised a Breast Cancer Awareness roadshow for the public, here, yesterday.
The event was officiated by Johor PERKEP chairperson, Bibi Zakiah Meraslam, wife of Johor Police Chief, Mohd Mokhtar Mohd Shariff.
Later, chief surgeon of the Hospital Sultan Ismail, Dr Sarojah Arulanantham, gave a speech on the importance of early detection of breast cancer and the subsequent steps to take after succumbing to the disease.
Her main message was ” Do not wait, do not be afraid. Go and have treatment …life has to move on.”
Dr Sarojah is also a member and an adviser to the Breast Cancer Support Group of Johor Bahru.
A BCSG-JB spokeperson told citizen journalist that the group organises breast cancer awareness roadshows monthly with the main objective of raising awareness on the importance of early detection of the disease
Available statistics indicated that there is a marked increase of breast cancer cases in the country where one in fifteen women have been infected with cancer as compared to one in twenty some years ago.
There is a trend that younger women are succumbing to the disease and this is indeed a growing concern, said Dr Sarojah.
BCSG-JB recently bought a bungalow in Taman Melodies from funds raised over the years to cater to its three hundred members who meet regularly and to carry out various activities for cancer survivors and supporters.
For more information about the Johor Bahru Breast Cancer Support Group, login to www.bcsgjb.org.my
Teresa Yeo, Citizen Journalist