Wan Azizah Urges Greater Efforts To Encourage More Women To Undergo Breast Cancer Screening

KUALA LUMPUR, Sept 19 (Bernama) -- Datuk Seri Dr Wan Azizah Wan Ismail has urged greater efforts to encourage more women to undergo screening, stressing the importance of detecting and treating breast cancer early.

The Prime Minister's wife highlighted that many women are still hesitant to undergo breast examinations, while the tendency to seek medical help only after their condition has worsened remains a challenge.

“A lot of our women do not go for screening. Many feel reluctant to be examined by someone. So we have to do something to encourage them to come forward.

“We do not want them to seek treatment only when the disease has reached Stage Three or Stage Four, when it may already be quite late,” she said when opening the 22nd Asian Breast Disease Association (ABDA) Annual Scientific Meeting 2026 here today.

The two-day meeting, themed "Strategising Multidisciplinary Management of Breast Diseases", brings together healthcare professionals and researchers from Malaysia and across Asia to exchange knowledge and strengthen cooperation in the detection, diagnosis and treatment of breast diseases.

Wan Azizah said under the PeKa B40 scheme, eligible recipients and their spouses aged 40 and above could undergo free health screening, including clinical breast examinations.

Eligible women can also obtain subsidised mammogram screening through the National Population and Family Development Board, she added.

She emphasised that improving outcomes was not solely the responsibility of healthcare professionals, but required a concerted effort involving healthcare institutions, professional organisations, policymakers, industry players, patient groups and the wider community.

At the same time, Wan Azizah also stressed the importance of preparing the next generation of healthcare professionals to manage the rapidly evolving field of breast care.

She said junior doctors, researchers, nurses and allied health professionals should receive structured mentorship and early exposure to multidisciplinary practices, besides being encouraged to ask questions, participate in clinical audits and lead community awareness initiatives.

“Developing our junior workforce requires more than teaching technical precision. It demands structured mentorship and exposure to collaborative best practices,” she said.

Wan Azizah said AI and advanced targeted therapies were transforming breast care at an unprecedented pace, yet technological innovation must remain grounded in human judgement and compassion.

“Innovation alone does not cure. It is the hands and hearts guiding these tools that make the difference. Technology can never replace the human touch,” she said.

Malaysia is hosting the meeting for the fourth time. It is jointly organised with the Malaysian Society of Radiologists and supported by the College of Radiology, Academy of Medicine of Malaysia.

-- BERNAMA