Fiji's Cancer Society says fear is driving too many women away from hospital care to traditional and herbal remedies to treat breast cancer.
The society's chief executive Belinda Chan said women with cancer are often scared and in denial about their diagnosis.
Ms Chan told the FBC a lack of support from family members and financial difficulties are also barriers to women seeking hospital treatment.
She said women from rural areas or informal urban settlements often lack finance and find it easier to turn to traditional remedies rather than established medical treatment.