2013

Nor Aini Abdullah, Wan Rozita Wan Mahiyuddin, Nor Asiah Muhammad, Zainudin Mohamad Ali, Lailanor Ibrahim, Nor Saleha Ibrahim Tamim, Amal Nasir Mustafa and Muhammad Amir Kamaluddin (2013). Survival Rate of Breast Cancer Patients in Malaysia: A Population-based Study. Asian Pacific Journal of Cancer Prevention 14(8): 4591-4594

Breast cancer is the most common cancer among Malaysian women. Other than hospital-based results, there are no documented population-based survival rates of Malaysian women for breast cancers. This population- based retrospective cohort study was therefore conducted. Data were obtained from Health Informatics Centre, Ministry of Health Malaysia, National Cancer Registry and National Registration Department for the period from 1^st Jan 2000 to 31^st December 2005. Cases were captured by ICD-10 and linked to death certificates to identify the status. Only complete data were analysed. Survival time was calculated from the estimated date of diagnosis to the date of death or date of loss to follow-up. Observed survival rates were estimated by Kaplan- Meier method using SPSS Statistical Software version 17. A total of 10,230 complete data sets were analysed. The mean age at diagnosis was 50.6 years old. The overall 5-year survival rate was 49% with median survival time of 68.1 months. Indian women had a higher survival rate of 54% compared to Chinese women (49%) and Malays (45%). The overall 5-year survival rate of breast cancer patient among Malaysian women was still low for the cohort of 2000 to 2005 as compared to survival rates in developed nations. Therefore, it is necessary to enhance the strategies for early detection and intervention.