Singer's death raises breast cancer awareness

File photo taken on Aug. 27, 2014 shows singer Yao Beina at a performance staged in Qiqihar, northeast China's Heilongjiang Province. Yao died of breast cancer in south China's Shenzhen on Jan. 16, 2015. Born in 1981, Yao became well-known after she appeared on "The Voice of China," a singing talent show aired by Zhejiang Satellite TV in July 2013. (Xinhua/Wang Yonggang)

The death of 33-year-old pop singer Yao Beina has brought breast cancer to the fore again in China.

She died from the disease last Friday in Shenzhen.

Breast cancer has been the most lethal disease among Chinese women.

While the average age of onset for the disease in women in China is 45, the disease is also on the rise in younger women.

Luo Yonghui, a doctor from the Second Affiliated Hospital to Nanchang University, suggests women, especially aged 35 and above, should perform a breast self-exam once a month.

"If there is one or more lumps found in breast, you'd better go to see a doctor without delay. The treatment of early-stage breast cancer has proven effective."

The doctor urges those from families with a history of the disease to pay more attention.

Late childbearing, lack of sleep and irregular medical checks are believed to be main factors that contribute to the disease.

Doctor Luo Yonghui is also warning that men can also contract the disease, saying alcohol is the main cause.

"Long-term alcohol consumption may lead to alcohol liver and liver cirrhosis. As estrogens are metabolized and inactivated by the liver, liver function damages will affect the process and result in excess estrogen. This is the main cause of breast cancer among males."

Currently in China, one out of every 100 breast cancer patients is male.