Screening detects precancerous lesions or early-stage cancers before symptoms appear, reducing both mortality and treatment burden. In Malaysia, the main focus is on breast cancer, cervical cancer, and colorectal cancer. Additional screenings may apply for liver cancer (in hepatitis B/cirrhosis) and lung cancer (in heavy smokers).
Hormone assessment is not a “one-size-fits-all” panel. Whether you need blood tests, which hormones to measure, and when to measure them depends on symptoms, age/reproductive stage, and risk factors. For example, irregular periods, excessive hair growth, hot flashes, abnormal lactation, infertility, or thyroid symptoms may indicate targeted testing. Routine “full panels” for asymptomatic women are not recommended.
Cervical cancer is the third most common cancer among women in Malaysia. It is also one of the most preventable cancers. Most cases are linked to infection with high-risk human papillomavirus (HPV). Regular screening combined with HPV vaccination significantly reduces the risk.
