A Review of Breast Cancer Research in Malaysia
- Author:
CH Yip
;
N Bhoo Pathy
;
SH Teo
- Publication Type:Review
- Keywords:
breast cancer;
Malaysia;
review;
genetics;
screening;
diagnosis;
prognosis;
treatment;
outcome
- From:
The Medical Journal of Malaysia
2014;69(Supplement A):8-22
- CountryMalaysia
- Language:English
-
Abstract:
Four hundred and nineteen articles related to breast cancer
were found in a search through a database dedicated to
indexing all original data relevant to medicine published in
Malaysia between the years 2000-2013. One hundred and fifty
four articles were selected and reviewed on the basis of
clinical relevance and future research implications. Overall,
Malaysian women have poor survival from breast cancer and
it is estimated that half of the deaths due to breast cancer
could be prevented. Five-year survival in Malaysia was low
and varies among different institutions even within the same
disease stage, suggesting an inequity of access to optimal
treatment or a lack of compliance to optimal treatment.
Malaysian women have poor knowledge of the risk factors,
symptoms and methods for early detection of breast cancer,
leading to late presentation. Moreover, Malaysian women
experience cancer fatalism, belief in alternative medicine, and
lack of autonomy in decision making resulting in delays in
seeking or avoidance of evidence-based medicine. There are
ethnic differences in estrogen receptor status, HER2
overexpression and incidence of triple negative breast cancer
which warrant further investigation. Malay women present
with larger tumours and at later stages, and even after
adjustment for these and other prognostic factors (stage,
pathology and treatment), Malay women have a poorer
survival. Although the factors responsible for these ethnic
differences have not been elucidated, it is thought that
pharmacogenomics, lifestyle factors (such as weight-gain,
diet and exercise), and psychosocial factors (such as
acceptance of 2nd or 3rd line chemotherapy) may be
responsible for the difference in survival. Notably,
survivorship studies show self-management programmes and
exercise improve quality of life, highlighting the need to
evaluate the psychosocial impact of breast cancer on
Malaysian women, and to design culturally-, religiously- and
linguistically-appropriate psycho-education programmes to
help women cope with the disease and improve their quality
of life. Research done in the Caucasian populations may not
necessarily apply to local settings and it is important to
embark on local studies particularly prevention, screening,
diagnostic, prognostic, therapeutic and psychosocial
research.
KEY WORDS: breast cancer; Malaysia; review; genetics; screening;
diagnosis; prognosis; treatment; outcome
- Full text:W020150729509977090627.pdf
