Nearly 70,000 new cancer cases were reported over two-year period recently. The new cases were diagnosed among Malaysia in Peninsular Malaysia between 2003 and 2005. According to a report released in 2008 on the incidence of the disease in West Malaysia.
The Cancer Incidence in Peninsular Malaysia 2003-2005 report, published by the National Cancer Registry (NCR), states that the total 67,792 new cases were diagnosed among 29,596 males (43.7%^) and 38,196 females (56.3%). The annual crude rate for males was 100.2% per 100,000 population and 132.1% per 100,000 for females.
The most frequent cancer during this period in Malaysias was breast cancer (18%) followed by large bowel cancer (11.9%) and lung cancer (7.4%).
Thursday, July 29, 2010
WHAT IS CANCER ?
Cancer is actually a group of many related diseases that all have to do with cells. Cells are the very small units that make up all living things, including the human body. There are billions of cells in each person's body.
Cancer happens when cells that are not normal grow and spread very fast. Normal body cells grow and divide and know to stop growing. Over time, they also die. Unlike these normal cells, cancer cells just continue to grow and divide out of control and don't die when they're supposed to.
Cancer cells usually group or clump together to form tumors (say:too-mers). A growing tumor becomes a lump of cancer cells that can destroy the normal cells around the tumor and damage the body's healthy tissues. This can make someone very sick.
Sometimes cancer cells break away from the original tumor and travel to other areas of the body, where they keep growing and can go on to form new tumors. This is how cancer spreads. The spread of a tumor to a new place in the body is called metastasis (say: meh-tas-tuh-sis).
CAUSES OF CANCER
You probably know a kid who had chickenpox — maybe even you. But you probably don't know any kids who've had cancer. If you packed a large football stadium with kids, probably only one child in that stadium would have cancer.
Doctors aren't sure why some people get cancer and others don't. They do know that cancer is not contagious. You can't catch it from someone else who has it — cancer isn't caused by germs, like colds or the flu are. So don't be afraid of other kids — or anyone else — with cancer. You can talk to, play with, and hug someone with cancer.
Kids can't get cancer from anything they do either. Some kids think that a bump on the head causes brain cancer or that bad people get cancer. This isn't true! Kids don't do anything wrong to get cancer. But some unhealthy habits, especially cigarette smoking or drinking too much alcohol every day, can make you a lot more likely to get cancer when you become an adult.
Doctors aren't sure why some people get cancer and others don't. They do know that cancer is not contagious. You can't catch it from someone else who has it — cancer isn't caused by germs, like colds or the flu are. So don't be afraid of other kids — or anyone else — with cancer. You can talk to, play with, and hug someone with cancer.
Kids can't get cancer from anything they do either. Some kids think that a bump on the head causes brain cancer or that bad people get cancer. This isn't true! Kids don't do anything wrong to get cancer. But some unhealthy habits, especially cigarette smoking or drinking too much alcohol every day, can make you a lot more likely to get cancer when you become an adult.
FINDING OUT ABOUT CANCER
It can take a while for a doctor to figure out a kid has cancer. That's because the symptoms cancer can cause — weight loss, fevers, swollen glands, or feeling overly tired or sick for a while — usually are not caused by cancer. When a kid has these problems, it's often caused by something less serious, like an infection. With medical testing, the doctor can figure out what's causing the trouble.
If the doctor suspects cancer, he or she can do tests to figure out if that's the problem. A doctor might order X-rays and blood tests and recommend the person go to see an oncologist (say: on-kah-luh-jist). An oncologist is a doctor who takes care of and treats cancer patients. The oncologist will likely run other tests to find out if someone really has cancer. If so, tests can determine what kind of cancer it is and if it has spread to other parts of the body. Based on the results, the doctor will decide the best way to treat it.
One test that an oncologist (or a surgeon) may perform is a biopsy (say: by-op-see). During a biopsy, a piece of tissue is removed from a tumor or a place in the body where cancer is suspected, like the bone marrow. Don't worry — someone getting this test will get special medicine to keep him or her comfortable during the biopsy. The sample that's collected will be examined under a microscope for cancer cells.
The sooner cancer is found and treatment begins, the better someone's chances are for a full recovery and cure.
If the doctor suspects cancer, he or she can do tests to figure out if that's the problem. A doctor might order X-rays and blood tests and recommend the person go to see an oncologist (say: on-kah-luh-jist). An oncologist is a doctor who takes care of and treats cancer patients. The oncologist will likely run other tests to find out if someone really has cancer. If so, tests can determine what kind of cancer it is and if it has spread to other parts of the body. Based on the results, the doctor will decide the best way to treat it.
One test that an oncologist (or a surgeon) may perform is a biopsy (say: by-op-see). During a biopsy, a piece of tissue is removed from a tumor or a place in the body where cancer is suspected, like the bone marrow. Don't worry — someone getting this test will get special medicine to keep him or her comfortable during the biopsy. The sample that's collected will be examined under a microscope for cancer cells.
The sooner cancer is found and treatment begins, the better someone's chances are for a full recovery and cure.
EARLY DETECTION AND PREVENTION
It is belived that 2/3 of all cancers can be prevented by maintaining a healthy lifestyle. For cancers that can be detected early, there is over an 80% chance of surviving the cancer. Cancer detected early can save lives.
Healthy Lifestyle:
You can lower your risk for cancer by choosing a healthy lifestyle. This means:
Healthy Lifestyle:
You can lower your risk for cancer by choosing a healthy lifestyle. This means:
- Don't smoke
- Be active every day
- Keep in a healthy weight
- Eat plenty of vegetables, fruits and cereals
- Eat food low in fat, sugar and salt
- Keep your alcohol intake low
- Be sun aware
Screening : is tests done on healthy individuals to find the cancer at an early stage. The screening guidelines recommended by NCSM are for the early
detection of cancer for people without any symptoms. Some people are at higher risks for certain cancers and may need to have the tests more frequently. Talk with your health care professional to find out how these guidelines relate to you.
The 8 Early Warning Signs of Cancer
- Any change in bowel or bladder habit
- Unusual bleeding or discharge from any part of the body
- e.g. Vaginal bleeding between menstrual periods or after menopause
- An unexplained lump that does not go away
- e.g. lump in the breast
- e.g. lump in the neck
- A sore that does not heal
- Changes to a skin spot, wart or mole
- Hoarseness of voice or nagging cough of more than two weeks
- Unusual bleeding from the nose, deafness or ringing sound in the ear.
- Indigestion or difficulty in swallowing
(Source From NCSM)
CANCER TYPES
Cancer Information Center listed the most common types of cancer found in Malaysia.
- Bladder
- Brain & Spinal Cord
- Breast
- Cervix
- Colon
- Kidney
- Leukaemia (Blood)
- Liver
- Lung
- Ovary
- Pancreatic
- Prostate
- Stomach
LATEST CANCER STATISTICS
Nearly 70,000 new cancer cases were diagnosed among Malaysians in Peninsular Malaysia between 2003 and 2005, according to a report released in early 2008 on the incidence of the disease in West Malaysia.
The Cancer Incidence in Peninsular Malaysia 2003-2005 report, published by the National Cancer Registry (NCR), states that the total 67,792 new cases were diagnosed among 29,596 males (43.7 per cent) and 38,196 females (56.3 per cent). The annual crude rate for males was 100.2 per cent per 100,000 population, and 132.1 per cent per 100,000 for females.
The most frequent cancer during this period in Malaysians was breast cancer (18 per cent) followed by large bowel cancer (11.9 per cent) and lung cancer (7.4 per cent).
The Cancer Incidence in Peninsular Malaysia 2003-2005 report, published by the National Cancer Registry (NCR), states that the total 67,792 new cases were diagnosed among 29,596 males (43.7 per cent) and 38,196 females (56.3 per cent). The annual crude rate for males was 100.2 per cent per 100,000 population, and 132.1 per cent per 100,000 for females.
The most frequent cancer during this period in Malaysians was breast cancer (18 per cent) followed by large bowel cancer (11.9 per cent) and lung cancer (7.4 per cent).
CONTACT US
Brain Cancer Society
Cancer Information Center (CIC)
Neurosugery Department,
Hospital Kuala Lumpur,
Jalan Pahang, 50386
Kuala Lumpur, Malaysia.
Jalan Pahang, 50386
Kuala Lumpur, Malaysia.
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