One in every four males at risk of cancer

Brunei recorded 987 new cancer cases in 2020, of which 448 were males (45%).

One in four males in Brunei are at risk of encountering cancer during their lifetime.

Cancer cases are projected to rise by 108% from 2020 to 2040 compared to the rise of 22.8% from 2010 to 2019, The Brunei Cancer Centre (TBCC) director Laila Jasa Dr Babu Sukumaran said.

Speaking at the launch of the “Movember 2022 Campaign” at Pantai Jerudong Specialist Centre (PJSC) yesterday, he also highlighted the main causes for the rise.

Laila Jasa said the steep projected rise could be attributed to the increase in population growth, increased life expectancy, ageing population, change in lifestyle (obesity, smoking, alcohol and Western diet), as well as better screening with diagnostic intervention.

“More alarming is the projected increase in cancer-related deaths to 160% from 2020 (434 cases) to 2040 (1,123 cases).

“Males account for 54% (236 out of 434) of all cancer deaths in 2020.”

Common cancers affecting males in Brunei are colorectal, lung, prostate, liver and stomach.

Other male-specific cancers are testicular and penile cancers.

Laila Jasa said one in 27 Bruneian males are at risk of developing prostate cancer while it accounts for one percent of total deaths.

Prostate cancer accounted for 40 out of 448 (8.9%) new male cancer cases diagnosed in 2021.

It is the third most common male cancer after colorectal cancer (20.3%) and lung cancer (15.2%).

Laila Jasa said TBCC had seen more than 300 odd cases of prostate cancer in the Outpatients Department from January to October 2021.

Outlining who is at risk of prostate cancer, Laila Jasa said those falling into the category are men aged above 50, those with family history, Germline Mutation-BRCA2 mutation and modifiable risk factors such as obesity, smoking and diet. — Borneo Bulletin/ANN