AS a general surgeon, Dr Clement Chen keeps a relentlessly demanding schedule, performing operations almost every day. Yet he arrived early for an interview about the Sibu National Cancer Society Malaysia (NCSM), a cause he holds close to his heart.
Dr Chen said cancer – often called the “Big C” – must be taken seriously, especially as cases continue to rise.
For many years, the Sibu NCSM has been a steady source of support for those facing a cancer diagnosis – one of life’s most daunting challenges.
While its work may not always be visible, its impact is felt deeply by patients and families who find comfort, guidance and companionship through the society’s programmes.
Leading the Sibu branch, Dr Chen said the society’s mission goes beyond medicine.
Education, information and emotional support form the backbone of its work, addressing not only the physical toll of cancer but also the fear, confusion and isolation it often brings.
“Cancer is not just a disease of the body. Many patients suffer silently because they do not know where to seek help or feel ashamed to talk about their illness.
“Our role is to ensure they are informed, supported and never alone,” he said.
Public education remains a cornerstone of the society’s work.
Through medical talks, forums and awareness sessions, it seeks to demystify cancer and promote early detection – a message Dr Chen says cannot be repeated often enough.
The stakes are high. When detected early, breast cancer carries a five-year survival rate of over 90%. But that figure drops sharply once the disease advances.
Yet late presentation remains common, with patients arriving with severe or advanced symptoms, sometimes even incurable.
Dr Chen noted another worrying trend: cancer is increasingly affecting younger people.
He has diagnosed breast and colorectal cancer in patients as young as 21 – a reminder that the disease spares no age group.
The cancer profile in Sibu mirrors national and global trends.
“Breast cancer remains the most prevalent, followed by colorectal and lung cancers. Many of our members are breast cancer survivors who return not as patients, but as pillars of support. Their presence gives us a unique strength – empathy rooted in shared experience,” he said.
The society itself has grown quietly. Though formally operating since before 2013, its activities began even earlier, gradually evolving into a more structured organisation.
Today, it runs educational programmes, support services and social gatherings that connect patients who might otherwise retreat into isolation.
Financially, the society is on steady ground. Income from its own building, public donations and annual allocations from elected representatives allow it to operate without constant fundraising.
Dr Chen praised the generosity of the Sibu community, with donations often arriving unprompted, sometimes in the thousands.
Still, the soaring cost of cancer treatment limits what the society can offer financially.
Instead, it focuses on practical support: wheelchairs, oxygen concentrators, home visits and emotional care, often working alongside hospital palliative teams and partner organisations to provide holistic support.
Volunteers form the heart of the society. Many are retired nurses or cancer survivors themselves, giving their time freely to visit patients, offer comfort through long nights and walk with families during life’s most fragile moments.
Their work, largely unseen, is the soul of the organisation.
Beyond medical care, the society nurtures human connection.
Weekly social gatherings, annual cancer camps and festive celebrations give patients something equally vital – a sense of normalcy, joy and belonging.
These moments remind them that life does not end with a diagnosis.
Looking ahead, the society hopes to reach more people across the community, breaking cultural barriers and encouraging openness about cancer.
For Dr Chen and his team, the message is simple but powerful: cancer is not a shame, and support can make all the difference.
In a town where rivers meet and lives intertwine, the Sibu branch continues its quiet mission: offering knowledge where there is fear, companionship where there is loneliness, and hope where it is needed most.
