KOTA KINABALU: Most cancer cases in Sabah are detected only at the end stages, says a clinical oncologist with the Health Ministry.
Dr Ros Suzanna Ahmad Bustamam, the national head of Radiotherapy and Oncology Services, said this called for more awareness programmes and initiatives about health screenings and awareness of bodily changes.
“In Sabah, the total population is approximately 3.4 million. In the Sabah Cancer Registry for 2012 to 2016, a total of 8,818 new cancer cases were reported in the state.
“The age-standardised incidence rates were 94.8 for males and 111.1 for females per 100, 000 population,” Dr Ros Suzanna said at the opening of the 34th Annual Scientific Congress of the Malaysian Oncological Society (Ascomos) 2023 here on Friday (Oct 6).
She said Kota Kinabalu recorded the highest number of cases, followed by Sandakan and Tawau.
She said the five most common types reported were breast, colorectal, lung, and cervical cancer, and lymphoma.
Among men, the most common cancer reported was colorectal cancer, followed by lung and prostate cancer; while in women, breast, cervical and colorectal cancers were most commonly reported, she added.
“Most cases were detected at a late stage, with up to 66.6% of patients presenting at Stage Three and Four,” she said.
Dr Marcus Netto, director of the Women and Children's Hospital in Likas, said the main challenges in cancer treatment include insufficient manpower and old equipment.
He said radiotherapy and related equipment had to be updated after 10 or 15 years of usage.
As for cancer treatment, he said it was hard to treat patients who come in during the advanced stages, so many of them end up in palliative care instead.
On this note, Sabah Tourism, Culture and Environment minister Datuk Christina Liew said the government was doing its best to provide the best in terms of healthcare accessibility and services to patients.
She said the infrastructure was adequate to meet current demands, although there is a growing trend in medical tourism in the state.
