Overall Cancer Incident[1]

•In 2006, 131 people per 100,000 population in Peninsular Malaysia were diagnosed with cancer and registered with the National Cancer Registry.

•The 5 most common cancers among the population were:

Breast cancerColorectal (colon) cancerLung cancer

Cervical cancerNasopharynx cancer

Overall Cancer Incident[1]

Among the population in Peninsular Malaysia:[1]

•Change in bowel or bladder habitsoDiarrhoea or ConstipationoUrinary frequency & urgency

•A Sore that does not healoSmall patches on the skinoSore in the mouth

•Unusual Bleeding or DischargeoBlood in StooloBlood in UrineoPost-menopausal Bleeding

7 Warning Signs of Cancer!!![2]

Colon Cancer

Bladder or Kidney Cancer

Skin Cancer

Oral Cancer

Colon Cancer

Bladder or Kidney Cancer

Uterine Cancer

•Thickening of Lumps in Breast or elsewhere

•Indigestion or difficulty in swallowingoCancer in digestive system

•Obvious Change in a Wart or Mole

•Nagging or Persistent Cough

or Hoarseness

7 Warning Signs of Cancer!!![2]

Common Wart

Lung Cancer[1]

•There were 2048 cases of lung cancer in Peninsular Malaysia comprising 1445 males and 603 females in 2006.

•Lung cancer is the second most common cancer among males and the third most common cancer among populations in Peninsular Malaysia.

Statistics

Lung Cancer

The single most major risk is

tobacco smoking, whether active

or passive.

Risk factor:[3]

Passive smokers are non-smokers who breathe tobacco smoke from a smoker.

Picture courtesy of: http://www.nlm.nih.gov/medlineplus/ency/imagepages/9940.htm

Lung Cancer

Tobacco smoke contains numerous chemicals (carcinogens) which damage the lung cells and initiate changes leading to cancer.

Tobacco smoke is

responsible for about

90% of lung cancer.

Risk factor:[3]

Lung Cancer

A cough that does not go awayChest pain, often made worse by deep breathingHoarseness of voiceWeight loss and loss of appetite

Bloody or rusty-coloured sputum

(spit or phlegm)Shortness of breathUnusual tirednessNew onset of wheezing

Symptoms:[3]

Lung Cancer

The treatment for lung cancer includes:Surgical removal of the cancerChemotherapyRadiation Therapy Combination of the above treatments

•Surgical removal of the cancer tumour is recommended when the cancer has not spread beyond the lungs.

Treatment :[4]

Lung Cancer

•Radiation Therapy is the curative therapy used to kill dividing cancer cells.

•Chemotherapy refers to the administration of drugs that stop the growth of cancer cells by killing them or preventing them from dividing.

•Chemotherapy is the preferred treatment when the tumours on diagnosis are found to be generally widespread in the body.

Treatment :[4]

Lung Cancer

•Smoking cessation is the most important measure that prevents lung cancer.

•Minimize exposure to passive smoking.

Prevention:[4]

References

1. Kementerian kesihatan Malaysia. Malaysia cancer statistics: data and figure Peninsular Malaysia 2006. [online]. 2006 [cited 2009 Dec 17]; [137 pages]. Available from: URL:http://www.moh.gov.my/opencms/export/sites/default/moh/report/Cancer/MalaysiaCancerStatistics_2006.pdf

2. Dr. Milton Lum. Signs of lung cancer. Malaysian oncological society [online]. 2007 Feb [cited 2009 Dec 17]; Available from: URL: http://www.malaysiaoncology.org/article.php?aid=260&PHPSESSID=0c7a95ea4019e25abad25e7653e35f09

3. Pamela J. Carter, Susan Lewsen. Lippincott’s textbook for nursing assistants: a humanistic approach to caregiving. Philadelphia (USA): Lippincott Williams & Wilkins. 2005. p. 743.

4. Melissa Conrad Stoppler, Jay W. Marks. MD. Lung cancer. MedicineNet.com. [online]. 2008 Feb [cited 2009 Dec 17]; [8 pages]. Available from: URL: http://www.medicinenet.com/lung_cancer/page8.htm