IKN To Become Cancer Reference Centre And Centre Of Excellence

PUTRAJAYA, Jan 5 (Bernama) - The National Cancer Institute (IKN) slated for completion in Aug next year will be the reference centre and centre of excellence for treatment and management of cancer in Malaysia and the region. Health Minister Liow Tiong Lai said IKN will function as coordinator in the provision of services by establishing policies and guidelines for cancer care. "IKN will have comprehensive and latest facilities for cancer treatment and management to provide comprehensive services including promote curative, palliative and research related to cancer," he told a press conference after visiting the IKN site here on Thursday. Costing RM690mil, IKN located adjacent to Putrajaya Hospital, about 200m away, on a ​​10.65 acre site and will have 252 beds. Liow said until Dec 21 last year, the actual physical progress of the project was 22.84 percent (compared to 16 percent) or 97 days in advance. IKN will provide comfort to patients and accommodate the rising number of cancer patients nationwide. "We will train more cancer specialists in the country to be placed at IKN." Main facilities include general operating room, brachytherapy operating room, day oncology, radiotherapy and oncology, medical nuclear, oncology clinic, multidisciplinary clinic, traditional and complementary medicine, national cancer registry and cytotoxic drug reconstitution (CDR). Liow said the percentage of death caused by cancer has increased from 7.37 percent in 1975 to 11.87 percent in 2010. "Cancer has become the country's second killer after heart diseases. Based on the National Cancer Registry 2007, the five types of cancer most common in Malaysia (men and women) are breast cancer (18.1%), colorectal (12.3%), lung/trachea/bronchus (10.2%), nasopharynx (5.2%) and cervical (4.6%)." The five most common cancer among Malaysian men are lung, colorectal, nasopharynx, prostate and lymphoma, while Malaysian women are breast, colorectal, cervical, ovary and lungs. "The increase in cancer cases in Malaysia is due to the aging population, unhealthy lifestyle, exposure to carcinogen agents due to modernisation. "One third of cancer cases can be prevented, another third can be detected early and one third can be improved by palliative treatment care." The government via the Health Ministry established the National Cancer Control Blueprint in 2008 to address and control cancer including the establishment of IKN. Liow said key prorities proposed in the blueprint are screening and early detection programmes for certain types of cancer and healthcare to increase public awareness. "We will will develop human capital, provide accessible and affordable treatment for the public, upgrade and set up facilities in selected hospitals (treatment modalities, palliative care service). "The ministry will also develop national standards, guidelines, codes of practice on cancer management." It plans to start colorectal cancer screening programmes in the near future on top of screening for cancer of the cervix, breast and oral. "Early detection and early screening will increase the rate of cancer detected at early stage and increase the chance of recovery," he added. - BERNAMA Malaysia