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CONFERENCE PROCEEDING
Review: The Effectivity of Awareness Campaigns of Breast Cancer from 2007 – 2011 in Increasing the Survival Rates of
Breast Cancer Patients in Malaysia
Siti NurBaitee binti Elias1, Wiaamul Adnin binti Edzwady Sham1, `Aisyah Syafiqah binti Suhaimi1, Amira Batrisyia binti Amiruddin1, Hasya Faqeha binti Hasal Masri1,
Nurul Farhah binti Hamidi2*
1Pahang Tahfiz Institute, Tanjung Lumpur, 26060 Kuantan, Pahang
2Jabatan Akademik, Pahang Tahfiz Institute, Tanjung Lumpur, 26060 Kuantan, Pahang Corresponding author: nurulfarhah@tahfizpahang.edu.my
ABSTRACT
This research examines the effectiveness of the breast cancer awareness campaign conducted throughout Malaysia in increasing the survival rate of cancer patients from 2007 to 2011. This campaign provides awareness to women to perform breast cancer early detection screening. This early detection screening is divided into three types which are Breast Self-Examination (BSE), Clinical Breast Examination (CBE) and Mammography Screening. BSE is a screening method used to detect breast abnormalities by the individual herself. This method is an approach to detect swelling or lumps in the breast. CBE is a clinical breast examination performed by a professional doctor in this field to identify abnormalities and early signs of cancer cell growth in the breast area.
Finally, Mammogram Screening is a method used to detect breast cancer at an earlier stage, when the cancer cells are still small even before the lump can be detected. At this stage, cancer is easier to treat. The implementation of campaigns throughout the country increased the percentage of people who did the screening to detect the growth of cancer cells at an early stage. This campaign also provides information and a deeper understanding regarding health and daily practices for breast cancer patients in practicing a healthy lifestyle. Therefore, the survival rate of cancer patients is higher because patients are able to receive treatment earlier. The design of this study is a qualitative study. The methodology used is a literature review and also an analysis of cancer patient survival rate statistics from 2007 to 2011.
Keywords: Breast cancer, survival rates, awareness campaigns, screening methods.
INTRODUCTION
Cancer is a disease in which cells start to divide uncontrollably practically in any parts of the body. There are many different types of cancer, including Brain Tumours, Colorectal Cancer, Pancreatic Cancer and Non – Hodgkin Lymphoma. As per cancer cases in Malaysia, it has been reported around 48,639 new cases in 2021 itself. This research focuses on breast cancer cases from 2007 – 2011, that is approximately 18,206 cases reported throughout the respective year (Ministry of Health, 2018).
Breast carcinoma is the most common malignancy in women and about one third of affected women will succumb to the disease (Robbins & Cotran, 2006). However, the mortality rates of breast cancer patients have decreased as there are a lot of initiatives such as awareness campaigns, done by the government and non-government organizations (NGOs).
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METHODOLOGY
This study employed the qualitative approach and conducted library research utilising the content analysis approach. This approach used the strategy of analysing data from earlier investigations. This study was a qualitative inquiry, and the written works—
books, journals, and articles—were the sources of the data analysed.
In general, this study focuses more on the similarities and differences between the various reading materials. The information gathered by the reading materials indicated was highlighted in this study. The data and statistics of breast cancer cases recorded between 2007 and 2011 in Malaysia during the pre- and post-campaign periods were the main subject of this study.
RESULTS AND DISCUSSION
In this study, researchers were focusing on breast cancer awareness campaigns held between 2007-2011 and the outcomes of those campaigns.
Initiatives to Decrease Breast Cancer Cases
Figure 1. Percentage of Breast Cancers by Age Group (%) n = 17009
Figure 1 shows the percentage of breast cancer patients by group in 2007 to 2011. The highest percentage are between the age of 45 to 54 with 34.9% cases out of the 17009 cases, followed by age range of 15 to 44 with 26.1% cases, age from 55 to 64 with 24.4%, 10.8% for 65 to 74 years old and the lowest is the patients aged 75 years old and above with 3.9% (Ministry of Health, 2018).
In order to decrease the cancer cases and increase the survival rates, The Ministry of Health had organised a campaign namely MHgoesPink (Ministry of Health, 2021). Next, one of the campaigns that has been held yearly in October since 1985 and is still in existence today is Breast Cancer Awareness Month. Thirdly, Avon Breast Cancer Crusade that was first founded in 1992 by the Estee Lauder.
In conclusion, the goals of these campaigns are to raise awareness of breast cancer through lectures by putting a focus on early detection techniques like breast self-examination and dispelling myths and stereotypes about breast cancer among Malaysian women. This campaign also touches about the methods of healthy lifestyle, followed by model demonstration on breast self-examination (BSE) (Avon Malaysia, 2022).
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Knowledge of Breast Cancer Symptoms
Figure 2. Results of Post Campaign Questionnaire on Breast Cancer Symptoms (%) n = 262
Figure 2 shows the results with the percentage of responders who knows the symptoms of breast cancer. 51.5% of the respondents know about nipple discharge compared to 48.5% of not knowing. Bloody nipple discharge is also known by 71.8%
of respondents while 28.2% are not aware. The questionnaire also displayed 96.6% of the respondent are aware for the symptoms of breast mass while the rest are not (Nursyahirah Saidin, 2018).
Knowledges of Breast Self-Examination
Figure 3. Results of Post Breast Cancer Awareness Campaign (%) n = 262
Figure 3 shows the results of post breast cancer awareness campaign questionnaire with total of 262 respondents. The percentage increased with more women know about BSE which is 84% compared to 16% of those who doesn’t. The questionnaire also reveals 89.7% knew that BSE is important while 10.3% think it is not necessary. Also, 51.9% of women have knowledges of BSE procedure (Nursyahirah Saidin, 2018).
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Comparison of Breast Cancer Cases
Figure 4. Comparison of Staging Percentage by Year
Figure 4 shows the comparison between cancer cases in 2007 to 2011 and 2012 to 2016. Stage 1 patient cases have shown the decreasing percentage for the year 2012 to 2016 by 2.4%. For the stage 2 cases, a decreasing result of 3.5% had been recorded (Ministry of Health, 2019).
CONCLUSION
The breast cancer campaigns that were held are positively effective to increase the survival rates of breast cancer patients whilst decreasing the mortality rates. To prove that, the campaigns are still being conducted till this day. Therefore, to maximize the survival rates of cancer patients in Malaysia, the Ministry of Health should organise awareness campaigns to raise public awareness of all forms of cancer, throughout the nation.
ACKNOWLEDGEMENT
We would like to express our sincere gratitude to our supervisor, Madam Nurul Farhah binti Hamidi, for providing us with the wonderful opportunity to conduct this research on the effectiveness of breast cancer awareness campaigns in increasing the survival rates of breast cancer patients in Malaysia from 2007 to 2011, as well as for providing us with numerous supports and advices.
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