The National Cancer Society Malaysia (NCSM), with support from Novartis Malaysia, and oncologists from Penang Adventist Hospital hosted a special event titled “Gift Of Time,” celebrating the resilience and hope of breast cancer survivors. It aims to foster a peer support network amongst survivors.
Penang Faces Highest Breast Cancer Rates
Held in Penang, this event is the second in a series dedicated to honoring those who face adversity. This initiative is especially significant as this state has the highest incidence of breast cancer in the country, with 50 cases per 100,000 women1.
Breast cancer remains the most common cancer among Malaysian women2. Unlike Western countries, where breast cancer is more commonly diagnosed in older women (between 60 and 70 years), Asian countries typically see diagnoses in women in their 40s and 50s3.
A Platform for Meaningful Connection
Given the severity of the local prevalence, the “Gift of Time” engagement offers a safe space for women to find strength within each other’s experiences. It included wellness talks from prominent oncologists, survivor-sharing sessions, and mindfulness activities.
Dr Dalilah Kamaruddin, Head of External Services at the National Cancer Society of Malaysia, said:
“The cancer journey extends beyond treatment. Breast cancer survivors must allow themselves time to adapt to their new reality. The goal is to find the right balance between treatment and self-care for optimal physical, emotional, and social well-being, leading to improved quality of life.”
A Three-Time Cancer Survivor Sharing
A 48-year-old aBC patient shared her story of resilience:
“My journey, which began at 25 with ovarian cancer and continued through breast cancer and its relapse, has taught me invaluable lessons. Every episode has been a call to reassess my life and embrace change.
I believe in finding meaning through these challenges and emerging stronger each time. Hope is not just about survival; it’s about transforming and appreciating life in new ways, much like a butterfly undergoing metamorphosis.”
The event also aimed to inform breast cancer survivors about the varying natures of breast cancers and the innovations in the medical landscape that can help them live well and longer.
Targeted Treatment for the Different Types of Breast Cancer
Dr Ang Soo Fan, Consultant Oncologist at Penang Adventist Hospital, shared:
“Significant progress has been made in the classification of breast cancer, definitively demonstrating that not all breast cancers exhibit uniform behavior. It can be generally classified into hormone-positive, HER2+ and triple-negative breast cancers. This distinction has led to treatment tailored to the patient’s breast cancer subtype, background, medical problems, and social needs.”
Dr Kiley Loh, Consultant Oncologist at Penang Adventist Hospital, shared:
“Locally, many breast cancer patients are diagnosed in the advanced stages, and while it is a severe diagnosis, it’s important to note that medical innovation has come a long way. When considering treatment options, quality of life is just as important as survival. By combining the right treatment with regular exercise and healthy lifestyle habits, survivors can experience greater well-being.”
Partnerships are Pivotal for Enhanced Patient Care and Outcomes
Mohamed Elwakil, Country President for Novartis Malaysia and Brunei, highlights:
“Gift of Time” is a platform that we’ve conceptualized to go above and beyond, together, for patients. This series of events enables us to bring more partners on board – hospitals, patient advocacy groups, non-profit organisations – to serve more patients beyond providing innovative treatments. We’re looking forward to more partnerships in the future.
And we’re happy to see the success of such events – patients and caregivers who attended “Gift of Time” were left feeling inspired: All of the guests from Penang said they would partake in another event like this if given the opportunity.
I believe that this is because we have done our ground work and understand that peer support is an integral part of cancer survivorship4. By providing a space where they can form relationships with other survivors, we are able to address the psychosocial barriers that remains an unmet need for some breast cancer patients.”
This is also Malaysia’s first APPISx event, a country-level initiative is aligned with a larger regional (Asia Pacific, Middle East and Africa) platform known as APPIS (Alliance & Partnerships for Patient Innovation & Solutions).
APPIS’ aim is to unite patient communities and key stakeholders in the healthcare ecosystem to address barriers within Malaysia and the region. Since its inception, over 2,000 people from more than 60 countries – including 400 patient organizations, policy makers, payers, physicians, academics, and digital innovators – have come together to share ideas on how to improve access and outcomes for patients.
