positive side of early marriage

...there was 1 moment in oncology class, Dr J (the oncologist) asked us about the statistic of breast cancer incidence in malaysia. i answered according to my experience doing practical in selayang and ampang hospitals. malays more than other races. because i saw most of the breast cancer patients are malays either during the checkup or in the ward. yet, the expression from Dr J's face seemed that he didnt agree with my statement. But, he didnt say anything....

on the way back home, i searched about it in my nokia 7390 (LIFE internet-gprs). after i opened few websites, then i got the answer.

• Breast cancer incidence per 100 000 population in Malaysia (2003): 33.9 for Malay, 59.7 for Chineese and 55.8 for Indian
• Cumulative risk to get cancer for Chineese (1 per 14), Indian (1 per 15) and Malay (1 per 24).

means, the incidence in malay less than in chineese and indian.


the next day, i told Dr J about my research and.... he started to smile. he asked us to remember back what risk factors of breast cancer and relate to the statistic.

risk factors

• age: more than 50 years old (risk increase by age)
  
• race: white women more likely to develop than black women
• family history of breast cancer
• history of endometrial or ovarian cancer
• present previous history of breast cancer
• long estrogen exposure
• long menstrual history
• late pregnancy (after 30 years old) or absent of pregnancy
• lifestyle: obesity, lack exercise and alcoholic

malays (muslims) in malaysia, most of them get married at the young age of twenties because islam and also in malay tradition, ENCOURAGE PEOPLE TO GET MARRY, to avoid the influence of negative moral. this leads to early pregnancy (pregnancy it will pushes breast cells into the final phase of maturation). islam juga menggalakkan kita MERAMAIKAN UMMAH (byk zuriat). pregnancy causes many hormone changes in the body. For one thing, pregnancy interrupts the normal menstrual cycle hormone levels for some time. Some studies have suggested that breast-feeding may slightly lower breast cancer risk, if only breast-feeding is continued for 1½ to 2 years or if many children are breast-fed. The reason for this may be that both pregnancy and breast-feeding REDUCE A WOMAN'S TOTAL NUMBER OF LIFETIME MENSTRUAL CYCLES.

but recently, malaysian artists get married around the age of early thirties and some of them even older than that. this CHANGES PERSPECTIVE OF THE CITIZEN. because many of them idolize/admire famous artists (especially malays. too fanatic...).

if this continuous, i think in the future, there might be much increase in breast cancer incidence in malays.


#extra-breast cancer is the most common cancer occuring in women, and the 2nd most common
of all cancer occuring in population after lung cancer.
every 3 minutes, 1 woman is diagnosed to have breast cancer (USA)
every 3 minutes, 1 woman is died because of breast cancer (USA)
every year, 30 000 women and 200 men is diagnosed to have breast cancer (UK)