Breast cancer awareness is important, but HOMESOY wants to take the conversation one step further by encouraging families, partners and communities to help women turn awareness into action.
Returning for its third year, HOMESOY’s ‘Stop That Dot Together’ campaign is widening its focus beyond women themselves, highlighting how husbands, partners, family members and friends can play an active role in encouraging early breast cancer screening.
“At HOMESOY, we believe in supporting women’s health and well-being at every stage of life,” said Ms Chang Wan Ping, Marketing Director of Ace Canning Corporation Sdn. Bhd.
“Over the years, the campaign has grown beyond raising awareness to become a community-led movement, one that encourages families, friends and communities to play an active role in supporting the women around them.”
Making Screening More Accessible
As part of the campaign, HOMESOY is providing financial support to the National Cancer Society of Malaysia (NCSM) for nationwide screening programmes and Cancer Research Malaysia (CRMY) to support research focused on Malaysian women. The brand is also working with NCSM and more than 40 medical centres nationwide, including Sunway Medical Centre, Subang Jaya Medical Centre, Prince Court Medical Centre and participating KPJ and Columbia Asia hospitals.
Women who undergo breast cancer screening at participating locations will receive a complimentary pack of HOMESOY 3.0 Soya Milk, with products worth a total of RM100,000 being distributed through the initiative. The campaign will also feature a social experiment video exploring some of the barriers women face when considering screening, and how encouragement from loved ones can make a difference.
For Mr Mohamad Faiz bin Bahruddin, 36, husband of a breast cancer survivor, support can start with simple actions.
“Whether it’s driving a loved one to her mammogram appointment, offering reassurance, or encouraging open health conversations at home, allies help bridge the gap between awareness and action,” he said.
Why Early Detection Still Matters
According to WHO GLOBOCAN 2022 data cited by the campaign, breast cancer accounts for more than 30% of cancers diagnosed among Malaysian women, with around 1 in 20 women developing the disease in their lifetime. Yet many cases in Malaysia continue to be diagnosed at later stages.
“Early detection remains our most effective tool against breast cancer,” said Dr Kiran Kaur d/o Amer Singh, General Surgeon with special interest in breast surgery at Columbia Asia Hospital Klang. A mammogram remains the gold standard because it can detect tiny abnormalities that cannot yet be felt. Ultrasound is also an important tool, particularly for younger women with dense breast tissue. She added that the right screening method can vary depending on a woman’s age, breast density and individual risk factors, making consultation with a healthcare professional important.
Helping Women Know What to Look For
Education is another key part of the campaign. Using the ‘Know Your Lemons’ tactile kit, participants were shown how breast changes can involve more than a noticeable lump, including skin dimpling, nipple changes and changes in texture.
“Using relatable tools like ‘Know Your Lemons’ to teach women what subtle changes look and feel like builds true body awareness, giving women the confidence to speak to a doctor the moment something feels different,” said Ms Fatin Aina binti Zulkhairi Amin, Science Communicator at Cancer Research Malaysia.
Through ‘Stop That Dot Together’, HOMESOY hopes to remind Malaysians that breast health does not have to be an individual responsibility. Sometimes, a conversation, a reminder or simply accompanying someone to a screening appointment can help her take that important first step.
For more information about the ‘Stop That Dot Together’ campaign, participating screening locations and partner medical centres, visit www.homesoy.my/breast-cancer-initiative.
