KUALA LUMPUR, 15 October 2016 — Pantai Hospital Cheras (PHC) held its fourth annual Pink Umbrella Walk 2016 today, in conjunction with Breast Cancer Awareness month. Over 500 members of the public participated in a 1.3-kilometre morning walk from Pantai Hospital Cheras to Cheras Leisure Mall, proudly holding up the signature pink umbrella. The event was aimed at promoting early breast cancer detection and diagnosis to ensure a higher chance of survival.
Themed on “LOVE LIFE. FIGHT CANCER.”, the event drew the support of non-government organisation, Breast Cancer Welfare Association Malaysia (BCWA), as well as companies such as Fitness First, Sa Sa and Wyeth Nutrition. The walk was flagged off by guest of honour, YB Tan Kok Wai, Member of Parliament for the Cheras Constituency.
According to Cancer Research Malaysia, about 5,000 Malaysian women between the age of 30 and 60 are diagnosed with breast cancer every year. One out of 19 Malaysian women is at risk, according to a 2015 statement by the Ministry of Women, Family and Community Development.
“We believe that early detection of breast cancer is crucial for successful treatment. I urge all Malaysian women to take the first step today – look out for the signs, whether it is increase in breast size or texture, painless lumps, swelling in the upper arms, nipple retraction (inverted nipples) or discharge of any kind. If you notice any abnormalities or changes to your breasts, go for an examination with a specialist immediately, especially if you are unsure. The sooner you detect the disease, the higher are your chances of survival,” said Dr Suziah Mokhtar, Breast and Endocrine Surgery specialist, Pantai Hospital Cheras.
YB Tan called upon Malaysians, particularly Cheras residents, to join millions of people worldwide in supporting breast cancer awareness by taking part in the Pink Umbrella Walk organised by Pantai Hospital Cheras every year.
“The statistics on breast cancer among women is alarming. Community events serve as a great platform to educate people from all walks of lives on the necessary steps in early detection of cancer. I applaud Pantai Hospital Cheras for their relentless effort in getting the message across to the community every year,” said YB Tan.
“At Pantai, we strongly believe early detection of breast cancer is critical in defeating the disease and saving lives. Community events like the Pink Umbrella Walk increase public awareness and access to fundamental healthcare information. As we continue to do our part in educating the public, we hope the participants will help spread the word on the importance of early breast cancer detection to people around them,” said Rachel Yew, CEO of Pantai Hospital Cheras.
At the event, Pantai Hospital Cheras also set up a health booth to demonstrate how to perform breast self-examinations (BSE) by checking for unusual lumps. The hospital also provided free health checks on blood pressure, blood glucose and body mass index (BMI).
The participants also enjoyed a health and beauty sampling booth by Sa Sa which featured B.liv, FINE, Kinohimitsu and Koji products, product sampling by Wyeth Nutrition, and face painting among others. To further support the breast cancer cause, Sa Sa donated RM131,140 to BCWA with the sale proceeds from its 21 September and 12 October “Shop for a Cause” nationwide campaign.
