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KUALA LUMPUR, Feb. 4 – It is estimated that 60% of cancer cases in the country are detected at an advanced stage, that it is stage III or stage IV said Health Minister Datuk Seri, Dzulkefly Ahmad.
He said one of the main factors behind the late detection was the lack of awareness of the importance of screening and early detection among Malaysians.
"We need to dispel myths, misinformation and misunderstandings among Malaysians who are reluctant to be screened or who choose to delay early treatment but who believe in treatment that has not yet been proven" , he said in a statement published with World Cancer Day 2019, celebrated every year at Fe 4.
Dr. Dzulkefly said cancer is now the second leading cause of death among Malaysians after heart disease.
According to him, the three most common cancers among men in Malaysia are colorectal (16.4%), lung (15.8%) and nasopharynx (8.1%), while bad cancers are the most common. Frequent in women (32.1%) colorectal (10.7%) and cervical (7.7%).
The number of cases is expected to increase in the near future, he said, attributing it to the high prevalence of noncommunicable disease risk factors (NCDs) and the aging of the population.
He added that the Ministry of Health provided screening services for four types of cancer, namely bad cancer, cervical cancer, colorectal cancer and oral cancer, in public clinics across the country.
Screening high-risk people for specific cancers such as the liver, prostate and nasopharynx is also available in public hospitals, he added. – Bernama
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