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In Malaysia, more than
21,000 are diagnosed with
cancer every year and it is
expected that more people
will die of cancer than of
heart disease and infectious
diseases within the next 10
years.
The World Health
Organisation projects that
cancer will kill more people
in developing countries than
in developed countries by
the year 2020: it is
expected that 75 percent of
all cancer deaths worldwide
will occur in developing
countries. This is, in part,
because many developing
countries have poor tobacco
control policies, many
societies are adopting
lifestyles which increase
their risk, and many
developing countries have
little resources to detect
and treat cancers
effectively.
We can and need to do more
to ensure that we
reduce the risk to cancer
through changes in our
lifestyles. Half of all
cancers could be prevented
if we stop smoking, maintain
a healthy weight through
exercise and a balanced
diet. Unfortunately, the
number of smokers in
Malaysia is increasing, and
many more Malaysians are
becoming obese. |
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We
can and need to do more to
ensure that
cancers
are treated quickly and
effectively. The
earlier cancer is treated, the
more likely the treatment will
be successful. Unfortunately,
the majority of cancers in
Malaysia are detected at a late
stage, at least partly because
of a lack of awareness of
screening and partly because of
a lack of proven diagnostic
methods for some cancers.
Tragically, even when cancers
are detected early, they are
left untreated or treated with
unproven therapies.
We can and need to do more to
ensure that future generations
have
more affordable and effective
tools to beat cancer.
The world research community and
industry is developing more
precisely-targeted forms of
chemotherapy, but sadly, the
average Malaysian cannot afford
the majority of these therapies.
In addition, the majority of
these therapies are developed
for cancers which are common
among Caucasians, but these
therapies have not yet been
developed for cancers which are
common among Asians. |
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