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Much of what we know about breast cancer comes from studies involving Caucasian women in Western countries. But research in Singapore has found differences in certain breast cancer characteristics among Chinese, Malay and Indian women.<\/span><\/p>\n Dr Lim Siew Kuan, senior consultant and breast surgeon at Solis Breast Care and Surgery Centre, said that breast cancer is classified in different ways. One classification describes where the cancer originates within the breast, while another describes its biological behaviour and how it is likely to respond to treatment.<\/span><\/p>\n For example,\u00a0<\/span>invasive ductal carcinoma<\/span> (IDC) begins in the milk ducts. \u201cIt accounts for around 70 to 80 per cent of invasive breast cancers worldwide,\u201d said Dr Lim. \u201cThis is true across all ethnic groups, including Asian women.\u201d<\/span><\/p>\n HER2-positive breast cancer, on the other hand, refers to a molecular subtype, she added. HER2 stands for human epidermal growth factor receptor 2 \u2013 the cancer cells have increased HER2 activity, which can drive their growth.<\/span><\/p>\n Adjunct Associate Professor Samuel Ow, senior consultant at the Department of Haematology-Oncology at National University Cancer Institute, Singapore, said Asian women have a slightly higher proportion of HER2-positive breast cancer \u2013 around 19 per cent, compared with 14 per cent in Caucasian women.<\/span><\/p>\n \u201cHER2 used to have a poor outlook,\u201d he told CNA Women. \u201cThe good news is that we now have targeted therapy which specifically blocks HER2, and HER2-positive breast cancer can be treated very effectively.\u201d<\/span><\/p>\n Dr Lim said research has shown that breast cancer patterns can vary between populations. Studies from Singapore have identified differences in the distribution of breast cancer subtypes among Chinese, Malay and Indian women.<\/span><\/p>\n<\/div>\nBREAST CANCER AND ETHNICITY<\/span><\/h2>\n
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