Provide free mammographic screening for all women at high risk of acquiring breast cancer to ensure that the disease does not needlessly take more lives, the government was told today.

The service should be made available not just for all women over 50 but also to those with a family history of breast cancer, PAS vice-president Husam Musa said in a statement today.

While breast cancer accounted for 31 percent of all cancer cases in women, mammographic screening has been found to cut the number of deaths by nearly 50 percent through early detection, Husam added.

"Mammographic screening for women over 50 must be made a priority, as breast cancer is the top cancer killer of women in Malaysia," he said adding that one in every 20 Malaysian women is likely to get breast cancer at some time in their lives.

Husam also warned against letting the sadness over the death of the premier Abdullah Ahmad Badawi's wife, Endon Mahmood, pass into apathy with regards to the killer disease. Endon succumbed on Thursday to breast cancer after a two-year battle. .

Husam said that the National Population and Family Development Board's health and breast screening program was costly and not accessible to those outside of Kuala Lumpur.

"Older women are generally retirees and cannot afford the high fees. But they are also the highest at-risk group and therefore it is essential for them to be screened," he said.

Cheaper treatment

He also called on the government to step up efforts to educate all Malaysian women on the importance of detecting breast cancer early on.

"Education must especially include rural and uneducated women as they are the ones most likely to not see a doctor, hence increasing the risk of their cancer growing undetected," he said.

The prime minister on Monday said he aimed to make cancer treatment cheaper for all Malaysians.

"The cost of cancer treatment is very high and I know the medicines are really expensive. It is my intention to make cancer treatment affordable to all," said Abdullah.

He said this after Deputy Prime Minister Najib Abdul Razak tabled a motion in Parliament to convey its members' condolences to the prime minister and family.