The Ikan Bilis and Belacan Story – 27 August 2004 |
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We, breast cancer
survivors are responding to a news release on The Star on Friday, 6th
August 2004 under the Health section entitled “Study on food link to cancer”.
Are we misleading the public? Instead of getting accurate and scientifically
proven information across to the Malaysian consumer we are disseminating
information that is not validated and substantiated. In a rapidly developing
country like It was stated that
65% to 75% of cancer patients surveyed had been eating foodstuffs such as ikan bilis (anchovies), belacan (prawn paste), dried prawns and salted fish for
the past 10 to 15 years which is being considered as a possible link to
cancer. A study conducted on 100 cases is NOT clinically and statistically
significant to deduce the link. The number of NON-cancer patients that
consume this ikan bilis
and the like has not been mentioned or compared statistically. Maybe the
ratios are the same (that is to say the general population also consumes ikan bilis at approximately
65-75% of the population) and therefore ikan bilis cannot be associated directly to cancer. In the same article, the Digital Infrared Thermal Imaging (DITI)
was considered an effective screening method for breast cancer. All this
while, during our talks on breast health awareness and breast examinations we
have been advising women to practise monthly breast
self-examination and annual mammograms. Now, with the above information in
the papers, it seems that the public is recommended to seek the technique of
DITI as “an effective screening method for breast cancer”. Many
different parties are trying to sell their products and unproven methods of
“screening or treatment” for cancer. They are abusing the system by
stating that the FDA has approved the equipment. We, the consumers should be
a step ahead of such claims. Yes, the equipment is FDA approved but not
necessarily for the function claimed by the said party. We need to ask
whether FDA has approved the use of the equipment for screening. As breast
cancer survivors, my friends and I from Breast Cancer Welfare Association are
troubled by such unprofessional ways of misleading the Malaysian consumer.
Firstly, did an authoritative scientific or medical body endorse this method?
The survivors of BCWA and other public educators on breast health issues now
have another task of reeducating the public that the use of DITI for breast
cancer screening has no scientific evidence whatsoever. Would anyone want to
take the risk of undergoing this test when it can be misleading causing
anxiety and emotional discourse to the woman irrespective of whether the
reading is positive or negative? Medical technology
has advanced such that one can live with the disease after it has been
treated medically by scientifically proven methods. As I have always
introduced myself: “I am living with breast cancer”, it proves that one can
continue with one’s role and function in society quite normally.
Scientifically proven screening methods will help detect breast cancer early.
Of course early detection and prompt medical treatment are essential
components of an improved quality of life and survival in breast cancer. To
get to this stage, one should not leave any stone of medical screening,
diagnostic and treatment unturned. In the same article, statistics were published without checking
the facts on the incidence of breast cancer in Numerous medical
experts have informed us that a blood test cannot be a screening tool for
cancers. If blood test can be used for screening cancers then we just need a
shot (injection in the arm) to draw the blood to determine whether we are
clear of the disease. Is that what we want the public to seek instead of
mammograms and other scans? Then what are the scans for? For details on Blood
Test for Cancer Markers please refer to |