Globally, lung cancer claims about two million lives each year, with a similar number diagnosed annually. In Malaysia, too, this form of cancer is on the rise – and, contrary to what one might assume, it no longer primarily affects male smokers.
According to Lung Cancer Network Malaysia co-founder Dr Anand Sachithanandan, the “face” of lung cancer in the country is changing as more non-smokers, especially women, have been diagnosed with the disease in recent years.
This is despite the fact that less than 2% of Malaysian women smoke.
The consultant cardiothoracic surgeon highlighted that, in Malaysia, lung cancer is the fourth most-common malignancy in women – with only breast cancer being more fatal – and the leading cause of cancer-related deaths in men.
Up to 90% of Malaysian men with lung cancer have a history of tobacco use, he added, while more than 60% of female lung-cancer patients have never smoked.
Meanwhile, in countries such as Singapore and Hong Kong, over half of all lung-cancer cases involve non-smokers.
Speaking at a panel discussion on lung cancer organised by Roche Malaysia recently, Anand shared that one of his youngest patients was a 29-year-old girl.
“She had no family history of the disease and was a non-smoker. She took a chest X-ray and, although she was completely asymptomatic, it picked up a shadow in her lungs.”
Had it not been for employment requirements, she would not have thought to undergo lung screening, he noted. “This is very much a curable disease if we can detect it early on.”
So, if patients such as this young woman don’t smoke, how do they get cancer? The main causes are air pollution and exposure to second-hand smoke, as well as family history, a significant risk factor that is often overlooked.
And despite recent advances in precision diagnostics, Anand said a majority of patients in Malaysia are still being diagnosed late at stages 3 and 4.
He cautioned that symptoms such as a persistent cough and recurrent chest infections could be indicative of the need for a check-up and should not be ignored, especially for those in the high-risk category such as heavy smokers.
Fellow panelist and consultant clinical oncologist Dr Jennifer Leong noted that many women harbour the notion that because they don’t smoke, they are not at risk of cancer.
“This is a dangerous misconception,” she said, emphasising that while typical symptoms can easily be missed, getting medical attention in the earlier stages of the disease can improve one’s chances of survival.
Finally, there’s the mental health aspects of being diagnosed with a condition such as lung cancer. Consultant psychologist Dr Caryn Mei Hsien Chan explained that this, sadly, is a commonly neglected aspect of treatment.
“Getting diagnosed with cancer is obviously an extremely significant life event for patients. But there is a significant group of patients who never reach the point of seeking professional help to process the grief,” she said.
“The effects of this can end up exacerbating their already-declining physical health.”
For Anand, the crux of the matter is the need for early detection which, while being “a challenge”, not only saves lives but would be more cost-effective for the patient and their families.
So, talk to your loved ones about going for cancer screenings, especially if they smoke or have a family history of the disease – and even if they don’t.
