Breast Cancer Screening: Mammograms in Malaysia

What is a mammogram?

A mammogram is a type of x-ray that allows doctors to observe any abnormalities or changes in breast tissue. Regular mammograms are currently one of the best ways to detect early signs of breast cancer — plus, they can be easy, cheap and safe. 

Why is breast cancer screening important?

Breast cancer is the leading form of cancer amongst Malaysian women — affecting 1 in 11 individuals here. Several factors contribute to your breast cancer risk, some that cannot be changed and some that can. 

While leading an active and healthy lifestyle helps to minimise our risk of breast cancer, identifying breast cancer early greatly improves the chances of surviving it. 

Here’s where breast cancer screening comes in. Early detection through mammograms and breast self-examinations, along with subsequent intervention, could mean that you’ll less likely need to resort to invasive treatments like surgery or mastectomies (breast removal). 

According to the National Breast Cancer Foundation, Stage 0 to Stage 1 breast cancer — where cancer is limited to the area where abnormal cells first start to form — is highly treatable and survivable, and may not even require chemotherapy to treat. 

Who should go for a mammogram?

  The National Cancer Society Malaysia (NCSM) recommends that women aged 40 or more get mammograms regularly, even if you do not feel like there might be anything wrong. 

If you are under 40, you should seek your doctor’s advice on whether or not you should get a mammogram done.

Besides age, other factors that could put women at a higher risk of breast cancer include: 

• A family history of breast cancer
• A history of ovarian cancer
• Early-onset of menstruation
• Late menopause 
• Having a first child after the age of 30
• Being on hormone replacement therapy 
• Gaining weight after menopause

Learn more about your breast cancer risk by referring to our guide on the causes and risk factors of breast cancer.

Mammogram screening for women under the age of 40 is typically not done as pre-menopausal women typically have denser breast tissue, reducing the effectiveness of mammograms in detecting early breast cancer. 

If you happen to notice any changes in your breasts — regardless of age — consult a doctor immediately. 

What’s the mammogram process like?

First of all, you should try to schedule your appointment a week after your menstruation ends. If you no longer have periods, you can schedule it at any time that is convenient for you.

On the day of your mammogram, avoid applying any deodorant, talcum powder, lotion or ointment to your underarms. As you will have to undress from the waist up, do wear a two-piece outfit if you can as well. 

During your mammogram, a trained female technician will lead you to a special low-dose x-ray machine. She will position your breast between two flat plates and compress them slightly for less than 2 minutes. This will be performed on one breast at a time. The compression is to allow the machine to capture better images of the flattened breast tissue. 

The whole mammogram procedure usually lasts about 30 minutes. These images will later be examined by a radiologist for any abnormalities or signs of cancer. 

You should receive your results within 4 weeks by post or at a consultation with the doctor.

If your results are normal, do continue to perform monthly breast self-examinations and go for regular mammogram screening at the recommended frequency for your age. It is best to stick to the same screening centre.

If you are notified that your results require further investigation, do not panic. 90% of the time, individuals receive normal results after further testing.

Are mammograms painful?

As your breasts have to be compressed for the x-ray machine to capture a clear image, mammograms are usually uncomfortable or slightly painful — especially if you have dense breasts. 

To reduce the tenderness, you can consider scheduling your mammogram a week or so after your period, to avoid the timeframe where your breasts might be more sensitive than usual. 

How much does a mammogram cost?

A mammogram can cost between RM120 to RM250 at participating centres. However, the National Cancer Society Malaysia and the Ministry of Women, Family & Community Development provides subsidies for underprivileged women, aged 40 and above.

Mammogram Subsidies in Malaysia

Under Ministry of Women, Family & Community Development, women that meet the eligibility criteria can benefit from free or subsidised mammogram screenings. 

Free Mammograms in Malaysia

The National Cancer Society Malaysia (SCS) offers free mammography services for underprivileged communities under our Free Community Outreach Programme.

Where can I get my mammogram in Malaysia?

Mammograms are available at government hospitals, LPPKN clinics or Nur Sejahtera Clinics, private clinics and private hospitals. For more information on participating hospitals and clinics in Kuala Lumpur, a full list is available here.

How often should I go for a mammogram? 

Even though you might be cleared after your first mammogram, breast tissue can still change over time. 

As such, women aged 50 and above should get their mammogram done once every two years. If you are aged 40 to 49 and have been advised by your doctor to get a mammogram, you should do so once every year. 

Pregnant women are not advised to go through a mammogram screening, as the x-rays could pose a risk to the foetus. If you have recently given birth, you should only get your mammogram done at least six months after you stop breastfeeding, for the most accurate results. 

Balancing the Risks of Breast Screening

Breast cancer screening can save lives — however, there are still women who feel uncertain about undergoing breast cancer screenings like mammograms due to the perceived risks. 

Here are some risks commonly associated with mammograms, along with the reasons why it’s still worth it: 

1. Radiation 

During a mammogram, your breasts are exposed to very small amounts of medical radiation. This radiation is equivalent to about six months of background radiation you would be exposed to in daily life and is at a lower dose compared to regular x-rays. Regardless, the benefits of screening and early detection outweigh this small risk of undergoing mammograms. 

* Pregnant women are still not advised to undergo a mammogram, as it may pose a risk to the foetus.

2. Callback Distress and False Positives 

Mammograms aren’t always accurate — factors such as age and breast density can reduce the accuracy of mammograms. Roughly 10% of mammograms may require additional testing. 

Having an abnormal mammogram result does not necessarily mean you have cancer — it just means that an abnormality has been detected in your breast tissue that needs to be investigated further with tests that are only available in the hospital. 

Take the follow-up checks with a calm mind and approach them as you would with any ordinary medical follow-up. 

3. False Negatives 

In the same vein, sometimes cancer may not be detected on mammograms. Factors that contribute to this include the cancer being too small, being in an area difficult to view via mammogram, or having dense breast tissue that might obscure signs of cancer. 

However, this should not deter you from undergoing your regular mammogram screening. Continue conducting your own monthly breast examinations (some cancers might be detected by physical examination but not by mammogram), and consult a doctor if you have any concerns.

Be Aware of Your Breasts

The best way to detect anything unusual in your breasts is to be familiar with them from the get-go. Monthly breast-self examinations are a great tool to help you understand what is normal for your breasts and when there might be changes to flag out. 

The Ministry of Health recommends the Breast Self Examination (BSE) that you can do every month:

Early Detection Saves Lives

Even though breast cancer research is always advancing and there are several options for effective treatment out there, early detection is still your best bet. More than 90% of women diagnosed with breast cancer at the earliest stage remain disease-free for five years or more, while their chances of living without serious long-term complications become much higher as well. 

As the Screen for Life programme puts it: the best time to get a screening is when you still feel fine. Be aware of your body, consult your doctor if ever in doubt and stay on track with your regular health check-ups! If you prefer to consult your doctor in the privacy of your home, consider engaging a house call doctor.

Find out more about other cancer-related resources in our Breast Cancer 101 article.

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