Photo : Datuk Christina Liew
KOTA KINABALU: Api Api Assemblywoman Datuk Christina Liew has made a personal donation to the Kinabalu Breast Cancer Support Association, better known as Kinabalu Pink Ribbon (KPR) in support of its fund-raising Mother’s Day Live Concert towards purchasing a mobile Advanced Portable Ultrasound machine.
The event will be held on May 22 (Saturday) at 8pm on Facebook @ Sabah Kinabalu Pink Ribbon.
“This is a meaningful project that will benefit rural women at large, particularly those with less access to healthcare facilities. I understand that the proposed machine is for use by the Breast Clinic of Queen Elizabeth Hospital II for outreach programmes in the various districts. Women with a suspicious breast lump can be given an ultrasound with results known immediately.. “Kinabalu Pink Ribbon’s noble cause deserves support from the health-conscious public,” Liew said in a statement, Friday.
The former Deputy Chief Minister noted that the organisation has been doing a commendable job to raise awareness on breast cancer among members of the community, and to educate women on breast health since its inception.
According to KPR, the prevalence of breast cancer is very worrisome in Sabah with 36.6% having been detected with Stage 3, and what is frightening is that 15.6% cases are at advanced stages, many of which are too late for treatment.
Meanwhile, Liew advised women who have been newly diagnosed with breast cancer to seek professional help, instead of resorting to bomoh treatment.
“It is totally unwise to approach bomohs, given the nature of their illness. It won’t do them any good. The bomoh is not a qualified doctor or oncologist (cancer specialist). Similarly, stay away from quack doctors who claim they can cure cancer with traditional methods. It is vital to go to the hospital for proper assessment and treatment,” she advised.
The Api Api Assemblywoman reiterated that early detection and treatment save lives, so time should not be wasted on seeking treatment from unqualified people until it is beyond recovery.
“We know that sadly, many women had gone to their rest prematurely over the years because they were already in the advanced stage of breast cancer, wittingly or otherwise. It is believed that they decided to get medical treatment from the hospital only after traditional treatment had failed.
“It is therefore important for spouses or children to encourage their wives or mothers to consult their family doctor or any qualified doctor as soon as possible if they suspect that something is amiss. Time is a crucial factor,” she said.
Liew added that she was aware of unfortunate cases where the patients dropped out half-way from evidence-based treatment in favour of getting assistance from the bomoh at the urging of family members, possibly due to sheer ignorance.