12
issue cancer
The HEALTH | APRIL, 2018
Cancer: Are you at risk?
National Cancer Society malaysia (NCSM)
medical director explains
by NURUL AIN
HUDA ABDULLAH
ainhuda@revonmedia.com
M
Global mortality rate
ALAYSIA had a total of 103,507 new cases diagnosed within a four
as of 2015
year period from 2007 to 2011. Of these, 46,794 were male while 56,713
were female according to the data obtained from The Summary of
Malaysian National Cancer Registry Report 2007 - 2011.
National Cancer Society Malaysia (NCSM) medical director Dr
Lung cancer
M. Murallitharan explained to The HEALTH that, from the National
Health Morbidity Survey (NHMS) data, it seems to show that cancer is on the rise
even in Malaysia.
“In other countries, where they actually have very good cancer surveillance
Liver cancer
mechanism, it shows that cancer is on the rise globally. Those kind of values, it
would be safe to say that cancer in Malaysia is on the rise as well.”
“It is not as alarming, as more people are getting diagnosed and living longer.
People are more aware, more conscious and getting more checks these days.”
Colorectal cancer
“Over the past two decades, we are seeing people live longer into their 70’s —
globally as well as in Malaysia. The official census data is about 72 years for males
and 74 years for females on the average. Quite a significant number of people are
diagnosed in the later stage of life,” he explained.
Stomach cancer
The mortality rate for cancer in specific is also hard to predict as a person might
have cancer upon suffering from a very chronic case of diabetes or heart condition.
“Cancer is unlike any other disease. It doesn’t mean that if you get cancer you
don’t get anything else. You would in fact get cancer on top other ailments,” he said.
Breast cancer
Speaking of the trigger effects of cancer, he said that there were two elements;
the relative risk and absolute risk.
“Relative risk is basically how much of risk is increased when you are exposed
to something in order for you to get a disease and a condition. While absolute risk
Number of cases diagnosed
is actually the real percentage of that risk. So there is absolute risk as to how we are
in Malaysia from 2007 – 2011
exposed to the disease - the chances of us getting the disease and that is something
103,507 new cases
which is very minimal.”
(46,794 male +
“Despite us having good nutrition and staying healthy, exercising all the time,
56,713 female)
not smoking or abstaining from alcohol, there are some amount of absolute risk of
getting cancer. This is because there are elements that you can’t control such as the
environment around you, pollution and passive
smoking - second hand, third hand smoke.”
“Although it is yet to be proven, there is also
a risk of electronic radiation, chemicals in food,
the carcinogens in the environments - in the
soil and water which all contribute towards the
absolute risk.
“Another factor of absolute risk is a person’s
ethnicity - your genetic makeup.”
He gave an example whereby the Chinese are
PRE-CANCER awareness and proper screening is vital. Yet the question still
remains; how often should you be screened for cancer?
at a lower risk of breast cancer compared to the
The tabs below provide information on cancer screening by age and
Indians and Malay. However, the Chinese are at
gender as recommended by the American Cancer Society.
a higher rate of getting Nasopharyngeal cancer
while Indians and Malays are at a higher risk
of getting cardiovascular disease and diabetes.
“There is always this genetic predisposition
GENDER
which a person is simply unable to change,” he
said.
MEN
WOMEN
What a person can change, however, is rela-
tive risk which is the behaviour, patterns and
1. Colon cancer testing and
1. Breast cancer testing
consumption.
prostate cancer testing
• Starting at age 45, women
“By reducing alcohol consumption and
All men at average risk
should get mammograms
abstaining from smoking, a person might be
should start testing at
every year.
age 50.
• 55 years onwards
lowering their relative risk. However, there is
mammograms every two years.
still the absolute risk which may cause a person
to have cancer.”
2. Lung cancer testing
2. Cervical cancer testing
“However, there are statistics to show that
55 years onwards
• A Pap test should be done once in
people who live a healthy lifestyle live long and
every three years.
might die in their sleep. But what we usually
• For women 40 years onwards,
hear off is rare cases such as those who do
a Pap test and HPV test can be
change the relative risk and yet get cancer,” he
done every five years for women at
said.
8.8 million
1.69 million
788,000
By
reducing
alcohol
consumption
and
abstaining
from smoking, a
person might be
lowering their relative
risk. However, there
is still the absolute
risk which may cause
a person to have
cancer.
– Dr M. Murallitharan
NCSM medical director
774,000
754,000
571,000
How often should you
be screened for cancer
average risk or they can continue
getting a pap test once every three
years.
3. Colon cancer testing
Women 50 years onwards may
inquire with their physicians if there
is a family history, genetic disorder
or other factors that may put you at
a higher than average risk.
4. Lung cancer testing
If you are 55 or older, talk to a
health care provider about your
smoking history or whether you
should get yearly low-dose CT
scans to screen for early lung
cancer.
Nutrition
versus
dot.com
doctors
T
HE social media since
the beginning of time,
has seen pseudo doctors
and dieticians sprout by the
dozens. Among numerous
postings, of interest is the
one that portrays the lifestyle
and diets to avoid cancer.
Myths such as eating
rice, non-organic food, or
consuming food that are
microwaved is said to cause
cancer.
According to the National
Cancer Society Malaysia’s
dietician Lim Chooing, the
way organic food is grown
might be higher in nutrition
and might be pesticides free
thus is said to prevent cancer.
“However, there are no
e