Keighley MP Ann Cryer is calling on the Asian community to come together and change views which make women ashamed to seek help for breast cancer.
Mrs Cryer, vice-chairman of the all-party parliamentary group on breast cancer, made the call after a meeting where fears were raised over stigmas in the community.
She said talking about the cancer or breasts in some communities was frowned upon - which caused some women not to get checked out.
She said: "Some women in Asian communities feel great embarrassment about talking about breasts or going to the doctors and this can lead to cancer being undetected."
And the fear is that if help and advice is not sought then the cancer spreads through the lymph glands.
"The Asian community itself should discourage this attitude and encourage women to carry out self examinations and get medical attention when needed," she said. "This must be highlighted - there is nothing shameful about it."
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