30-40% in Sabah unaware of cancer
Cancer awareness in Sabah is s ll low with some 30% to 40% of people, especially in rural areas, unaware of the life-threatening disease, according to an oncologist.
KOTA KINABALU: Cancer awareness among the people in Sabah is still poor, according KPJ Sabah consultant clinical oncologist Datuk Dr Jaswant Singh.
He said about 30% to 40% of the population in the State were still unaware of the disease.
Dr Jaswant said this was due to geographical factor and the State's road infrastructure which slowed down efforts to spread awareness in the rural areas and the task was really challenging.
This was not a problem for people in the urban areas as it was easy for them to go to hospitals for a medical check-up compared to the rural people, some of who might a day to do so, said Dr Jaswant when met during the KPJ Sabah Cancer Awareness Campaign entitled “Be Bold & Go Bald” held at KPJ Sabah Specialist Hospital in Luyang here yesterday.
Dr Jaswant said the prevalence of cancer in Sabah was quite high because for a million population, there would be 1,000 new cases of cancer (disease) expected to appear.
Based on the latest figures of the World Health Organization (WHO), he said one person out of three would get cancer in a lifetime.
“So cancer is a very chronic problem. Breast cancer is most common and number one in ladies, next is cervix cancer. Nasopharangeal is the most common cancer among men and followed by colorectal and lung cancer.
“In my 30 years of medical service in East Malaysia, I find that it is very rare for stage one cancer patients to come in for treatment.
“You see, cancer is curable. Stage one (patients) had 95% survival rate, but stage four patients had less than 5% but most people come for treatment when they in stage two or three. Very rare for them to come early.”
“Factors that cause cancer is multifactoral, which includes genetically inherited, lifestyle, pollution, modernization, industrialization and environment,” said Dr Jaswant.
So he urged the people to raise the level of awareness of the seven warning signs of cancer and the need for regular health screening in order to detect cancer at an early stage as cancer is painless.
“Because cancer is painless so people don't bother. Here is the common tendency, if you have a lump, you don't see a doctor because it is not painful. You refer to doctor when it is painful. I also can't blame you,” he said.
The seven warning signs of cancer are: internal bleeding or discharge from anywhere; sore which does not heal; change in bowel or bladder habits; lump in breast or any part of the body; chronic cough; obvious change in moles; and difficulty in swallowing.
Dr Jaswant opined that the private sector and the government should work together by doing a common diagnosis for the benefit of the people.
“A simple thing like cervix cancer can be detected very early...Okay, mammogram (breast cancer screening) may be expensive about RM200 to RM300 but ‘pap smear' (cervix cancer screening) must be done yearly. So they (the people) should be encouraged to do more screening, very simple screening like ‘pap smear',” he explained.
He said private hospitals and clinics could not reach those in the rural areas but the government could as there was a government hospital in every district and health clinics in villages they all could spread about cancer and raise their awareness.
Meanwhile at the event yesterday, 28 volunteers took up the challenge of shaving their heads in solidarity with cancer patients to raise public awareness of the life-threatening disease.
“We are thankful for our amazing volunteers to go bald. Among them are six years old Mohammad Hazim Mohd Faizal and seven years old Mohammad Hadif Mohd Faizal with their message: I want to support children who have cancer and lost their hair,” said KPJ chief executive officer Miranda Harumal.
According to Miranda, “Be Bold & Go Bald” program was organised with the objective of raising public awareness about cancer with the main focus on “Prevention, Detection and Treatment”.
The program was organized by KPJ Sabah Specialist Hospital with the theme “Be Bold and Go Bald” to celebrate the power of global solidarity in the fight against cancer by encouraging people around the world to take action together to defeat cancer.
A charity cheque for RM12,500 were also presented to selected non-governmental organizations (NGO) of Kinabalu Pink Ribbon, Palliative Care Association of Sabah, Sabah Thalassaemia Society, Sandakan Pink Ribbon and Tawau Pink Ribbon.
Other activities were health talks by Dr Jaswant, Consultant Surgeon Dr. Peter Ong conducted free health screening, booths activities and exciting lucky draws.
Contributors to the programs were 52nd Street Hair Saloon & Studio, Addy Unisex Saloon, lksnita, Kemas Rimaju Trading, KLA Group, K2 Water, KupiKupi. FM, Michelle Hair Make Up Studio & Academy, New York Fitness, Nippon Paint, Parents Avenue Magazine, Yuwang Plantation and Yuwang Properties Sdn. Bhd.