IGNORANCE may be bliss but not when it comes to breast cancer.

Breast surgeon, Dr Tan Su Ming, said misinformation about the disease and its causes are still keeping women from taking the right steps to reduce their risk and catch the disease early.

Breast cancer is the most common cause of cancer-related deaths in women here - with 1,100 new cases reported each year, and about five deaths each week.

If detected early and treated, 95 per cent of patients remain cancer-free five years later, experts say.

Yet, a recent study by the Breast Service at Changi General Hospital (CGH) found that four in 10 (41%) women believe that those with larger breasts have a higher risk of breast cancer; and more than four in 10 women (43%) thought that radiation from mammography could cause breast cancer.

The survey of 1,000 women, aged between 20 and 65 years, also found that about a third (30%) did not know that breast cancer can spread.

The results of the study were unveiled at CGH's Combined Scientific Meeting last month.

Dr Tan, who is a senior consultant and head of the Breast Service, said the findings were worrying. 'More than half surveyed believed that breast cancer lumps are painful. Most of the time they are painless,' she said.

'Almost the same number also thought mastectomy was the only treatment for breast cancer.'

Mastectomy is the surgery to remove all or part of the breast and sometimes other tissue.

Dr Tan explained that there are other treatments available, such as lumpectomy, a procedure to remove just the lump and some of the tissue around it; or radiation therapy to kill cancer cells and shrink tumours.

'When it comes to the races, Malay women are the ones who are not so well-informed. So we intend to zoom in on this group and try to improve their knowledge through education and talks,' said Dr Tan.

But it was not all bad news, as it was found that more than half (53%) did their self examination regularly.

Find out more about breast cancer and the different treatment options in Mind Your Body, with The Straits Times on Wednesday.

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About breast cancer
This is the most common cancer in Singaporean women, with 200 - 300 women dying from the disease each year. Screening is with mammography.

Signs and symptoms
A hard fixed lump in the breast
Bloody nipple discharge
Itch and rash on the nipple
Skin changes on the breast

This article first appeared in The Straits Times on Oct 2, 2007.