PETALING JAYA, August 8 — The National Cancer Society Malaysia (NCSM) has called for collective effort beyond the health care sector to combat cancer by treating it not just as a medical problem, but as a community, workplace, and economic issue.
NCSM managing director Dr M. Murallitharan told a group of cancer care professionals at the National Cancer Congress Malaysia 2024 held last June 23 at Sunway University about the need for a proactive approach from society as a whole in changing attitudes and behaviours towards cancer prevention, treatment, and support.
While acknowledging the widespread empathy for cancer patients, he challenged the audience to move beyond sympathy to action instead.
Highlighting the power of personal connection, Dr. Murallitharan stressed that individuals must feel personally invested in the fight against cancer. “Whether through personal experiences or relationships with cancer survivors, each of us has a role to play,” he said.
He stated that while individual efforts are crucial, collective action is also essential for change.
Dr Murallitharan urged for strategic partnerships with businesses and corporations, in aligning their social corporate social responsibility initiatives with cancer causes.
“Businesses can make a significant impact by supporting cancer research, treatment facilities, and community outreach programmes.”
Addressing the societal and economic impact of cancer, he highlighted its toll on productivity and health care costs.
“Cancer is not just a health issue; it affects workplaces, families, and communities,” he said, encouraging employers to prioritise employee health and wellness initiatives to support those affected by cancer.
Drawing attention to the arts community, he noted the disproportionate impact of cancer on artists and performers.
“Many in the arts community struggle with cancer, impacting their livelihoods and cultural contributions,” he said, stressing the importance of supporting artistic talents affected by the disease through targeted initiatives and support networks.
Regarding global health priorities, he referred to the United Nations Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs) as a framework for mobilising global support for cancer-related efforts.
“The SDGs provide a comprehensive roadmap to address cancer disparities and promote health equity,” he said, stressing international collaboration and increased funding for cancer research, treatment, and patient support services.
He concluded that a united front either through personal commitment, corporate support, or global advocacy that each person has the power to make a significant difference.
He further reiterated that making cancer everyone’s business would further drive transformative change and improve outcomes for cancer patients nationwide.
According to the newly released Malaysia National Cancer Registry Report 2017-2021, late-stage cancer detection in Stage 3 and 4 increased from 63.7 per cent in the 2012-2016 period to 65.1 per cent for 2017-2021.
The registry report identified breast cancer, colorectal cancer, lung cancer, lymphoma, liver cancer, prostate cancer, leukaemia, nasopharyngeal cancer, uterine corpus cancer, and ovarian cancer as the ten most commonly diagnosed cancers in Malaysia in 2017 to 2021.
