The good news is that the cancer for 400 of these women is still in the extremely early stage - what is called ductal carcinoma in-situ (DCIS), sometimes referred to as stage zero, before the cancer cells have breached the duct walls.

Not only are their chances of survival very good, their treatment is also less radical, said Dr Ho Gay Hui, a senior consultant with the National Cancer Centre (NCC).

Read Salma Khalid's full story in Friday's edition of The Straits Times.