KUALA LUMPUR: Almost 250,000 Malaysians have been diagnosed as having cancer in just seven years, with more people dying of the disease each year, says Datuk Seri Dr Dzulkefly Ahmad.
“From 2017 to 2023, a total of 248,207 cancer cases were reported in Malaysia.
“Deaths due to cancer saw a rise from 12.6% in 2022 to 13.8% in 2023, based on the Statistics Department data,” the Health Minister said when launching World Cancer Day 2025 here yesterday.
He said the five leading types of cancer affecting Malaysians were breast, colorectal, lung, lymphoma and liver cancer.
Cancer is also the third leading cause of premature deaths in the country, after pneumonia and heart failure.
“Being told you have cancer is like receiving a death sentence. It can be very overwhelming for the person and their family.
“They struggle to cope and the financial impact is overwhelming,” he said.
To better address the rise in cancer cases, he said the nation’s healthcare should be preventive and predictive rather than reactive.
Meanwhile, Dzulkefly said Malaysia would be tabling a resolution on lung health at the upcoming World Health Assembly in May as part of the nation’s contribution towards global health.
He said this would be done in collaboration with the World Health Organisation and 14 other countries.
“The move will make lung health a global health priority to encourage bigger investment in treatment and screening for lung cancer,” he said.
He also said the country will play a role in strengthening lung health in the region now that Malaysia is chair of Asean.
This includes adopting an Asean standard screening for lung cancer and tighter tobacco control, he added.
