MRCA Event
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MRCA Women’s Division Health Talk: Only One Test to Say I’m Ok In line with its commitment to “Empower. Educate. Eliminate”, MRCA Women’s Division conducted a virtual health talk entitled “Only ONE Test To Say I’m Ok”.
eld on 6 February 2021, the health talk featured distinguished speakers, Dr Evelyn Ho, Consultant Clinical Radiologist from ParkCity Medical Centre and Professor Dr Woo Yin Lin, Consultant Gynaecological Oncology from University Malaya Medical Centre. The session was held in conjunction with World Cancer Day.
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CANCER SCREENING In addressing cancer screening, Dr Evelyn said that people need t o be aware of the many invisible risks, the biggest of which is people’s tendency to overestimate danger and underestimate their ability to cope. She stressed that this in turn paralyses people to either take no action at all or excessive action, which is harmful. She reminded the audience that with fake news spreading rapidly in today’s digital era, people have to be careful in digesting information. Dr Evelyn explained that in order to stay healthy, there needs to be a proper understanding of public health. The concept of prevention in public health encompasses three levels: • LEVEL 1 The first level is predisease, which calls for the adoption of healthy choices, avoiding risk factors and taking vaccinations. • LEVEL 2 The second level is during the disease, which calls for the prevention and reduction of the severity of the disease through early detection. Malaysia Retailer Vol 9 No 1
• LEVEL 3 The third level is postdisease, which is limiting long-term impairment whereby a patient can return to as normal a life as possible through counselling, rehabilitation, and pain relief, among others. As much as people are afraid of cancer, Dr Evelyn stressed that the main cause of death in Malaysia is not cancer. In fact, heart disease is the highest cause of death among Malaysians, followed by pneumonia. She shared that between 2012 and 2016, the top cancers among Malaysians included colorectal cancer, breast cancer, lung cancer, lymphoma and nasopharynx cancer. In explaining screening, Dr Evelyn said, “Screening is testing for the presence of a disease or a condition with risk markers.” Dr Evelyn warned that although screening reveals high genetic risk or family history of a certain disease, it does not mean an individual will definitely suffer from the same disease as well. The predictive value of tests may be low, which means that it often cannot predict accurately. In speaking about breast cancer, Dr Evelyn explained that the biggest risk of breast cancer is being female. The majority of women with breast cancer have no known risk factors. She said that a mammogram can save one’s life, even when a woman feels that nothing is wrong with her breasts. She stressed that the earlier the cancer is detected, the easier it is to treat. However, she cautioned that not all changes in the breast are
cancer, and that very early cancer cannot be felt or is situated deep in the breast, hence early detection is key. She advised women aged 40 and above to consider doing regular mammograms every two years. She also cautions women to carry out regular self-examination and to consult a doctor if there are any irregularities.
ELIMINATING CERVICAL CANCER On the topic of eliminating cervical cancer, Professor Dr Woo explained that there are currently tools to eliminate this form of cancer. She said that there is no effective screening for ovarian cancer today, and the way to look out for signs and symptoms is to be aware of changes in one’s own body, such as pain and bloating, among other symptoms. She explained that in the case of womb cancer, the main symptom is abnormal bleeding. “The cervix is a very small portion and part of the uterus. When you screen for cancer of the cervix it does not screen for the risk of uterine or ovarian cancer,” said Professor Dr Woo. She added that cervical cancer is one of the most common cancers among women globally. It can be eliminated through intensified vaccination against human papillomavirus (HPV), screening and treatment. HPV, she stated, is a very common viral infection that is passed between people through
