Cancer Trends at Lifestyle and Cancer Prevention Talk

2 December 2024

KOTA KINABALU: In a bid to raise awareness about cancer, Api-Api Assemblywoman Datuk Seri Christina Liew shared critical insights on the global, national, and Sabah-specific incidence of cancer during a recent talk on "Lifestyle and Cancer Prevention" held on Sunday.

The event, organised by the Parti Keadilan Rakyat (PKR) Kota Kinabalu Branch at Citadines Waterfront Kota Kinabalu, drew an audience of approximately 100 participants.

"As we all know, cancer remains one of the leading causes of death worldwide," Christina stated.

"According to statistics from the International Agency for Research on Cancer, there were an estimated 19.3 million new cancer cases and 10 million cancer-related deaths globally in 2020, with incidence rates continuing to rise."

Christina, who also serves as the PKR Kota Kinabalu Branch Chief, highlighted alarming trends within Malaysia. The recently released National Cancer Registry Report for 2017 to 2021 indicates a significant increase in cancer incidence compared to data from 2012 to 2016.

She noted that the ten most common cancers affecting men in Malaysia include colorectal, lung, prostate, liver, lymphoma, nasopharynx, leukemia, non-melanoma skin cancer, stomach, and pancreatic cancers.

For women, the most prevalent cancers are breast, colorectal, lung, endometrial (womb cancer), ovarian, cervical, lymphoma, thyroid, leukemia, and liver cancers.

Locally, in Sabah, Christina reported that 8,818 new cancer cases were documented between 2012 and 2016 based on data from the Sabah Cancer Registry.

The age-standardized incidence rates were 94.8 per 100,000 for males and 111.1 per 100,000 for females.

"Kota Kinabalu recorded the highest number of cases, followed by Sandakan and Tawau," she added.

"For men, colorectal cancer was the most frequently reported, followed by lung and prostate cancers. In women, the predominant cancers were breast, cervical, and colorectal."

Worryingly, Christina pointed out that many cancers were diagnosed at advanced stages, with approximately 66.6% of patients—both male and female—presenting at Stage III and IV at the time of diagnosis.

The session featured an interactive discussion with Sabahan clinical oncologist Prof. Dr. Ho Gwo Fuang, who addressed numerous questions from the engaged audience, providing further insights into cancer prevention and lifestyle choices.

This informative event underscored the importance of awareness and early detection in the fight against cancer, encouraging participants to take proactive steps towards healthier lifestyles.

Also present during the event was Organising Chairperson Vivien Lee.