Facts & Figures about Breast Cancer

Breast cancer is a major global health problem and the leading cause of death among women of all ethnic backgrounds. Each year, an estimated 1.6 million new cases are diagnosed worldwide. In Malaysia, breast cancer is the most common cancer where 1 in 19 Malaysian women will be diagnosed with breast cancer by the age of 85. Around 4000 women are diagnosed each year and it occurs mostly in women aged between 35 and 60 with 40% affected aged below 50. Although rare, men can also develop breast cancer.

Sources:

• Cancer Facts & Figures 2014, American Cancer Society. Atlanta, Georgia, 2014
• National Cancer Registry of Malaysia 2005-2007.

Status of Cancer in Malaysia

Cancer is increasing in incidence and today, it would seem that each of us knows at least a friend or a family member that has been affected by cancer. Based on the latest Health Facts 2013 released by Ministry of Health (MoH) Malaysia, cancer is one of the top ten causes of hospitalisation and one of the top five causes of death in both MoH and private hospitals. The salient truth is that cancer has overtaken hearth disease as the number one killer this year (2014).

Although the USA death toll from cancer has declined for 2 decades, cancer deaths continue to rise globally according to the annual cancer statistics report from the American Cancer Society – largely due to effective treatment and with an increasing population ceasing smoking in stark contrast to the rest of the world.

In Malaysia, the incidence of cancer increased from 32,000 new cases in 2008 to about 37,000 in 2012 (approx 100 new cases per day!). Mortality due to cancer stood at 20,100 deaths in 2008 and has increased to 21,700 deaths in 2012, according to the International Agency for Research on Cancer (IARC) Globocan of the World Health Organisation (WHO). More than 50% of Malaysian Malay men smoke, more than 30% Malaysians are obese, yet we still do not take screening and prevention seriously.

• 15% of Malaysian population will get cancer before 75 years old.
• 9% of Malaysian population will die from cancers before 75 years old.

Cancer Statistics in Malaysia (2012)



Sources:

• Health Facts 2013, Ministry of Health Malaysia, Health Informatics Centre Planning Division, July 2013.
• GLOBOCAN 2012 v1.0, Cancer Incidence and Mortality Worldwide: IARC CancerBase No. 11, Ferlay J, Soerjomataram I, Ervik M, Dikshit R, Eser S, Mathers C, Rebelo M, Parkin DM, Forman D, Bray, F, International Agency for Research on Cancer (IARC).
• National Cancer Registry Report, Malaysia Cancer Statistics – Data and Figure 2007, Ariffin OZ, Saleha IT, Ministry of Health, Malaysia, 2011.
• Global Trends, Cancer and High Drug Prices, Khor M, Third World Network Mar 2014.

*Head and neck cancer includes cancer incidences for nasopharynx, larynx, tongue, mouth, nose&sinuses, salivary gland, hypopharynx, other oralpharynx, tonsil, pharynx unspecified and lip.

The Story of A Man with 4 Wives

I promise not to spoil the fun. Find out the story yourself :)

How Will Healthcare Evolve and the Future of Medical Care.

An insightful lecture from Professor Christensen from Harvard Business School on "How Healthcare Can Become Higher in Quality, Lower in Cost, and Widely Available". The gist of what he thinks about the evolution of the healthcare system from the business point of view, very similar to the evolution of computers. From 'centralization' to 'decentralization; 'highly skilled' to operate to 'less skilled required' to operate without compromising quality of care; and from 'expensive' to 'inexpensive'. That was exactly what happened to the computer industry. From huge expensive computers to smartphones. How can healthcare become more affordable then? Do not expect hospital fees to become cheaper or specialist doctors to take a pay cut. Technology will be the driving force that will drive healthcare to a lower cost venue of care and enable lower cost care giver to do more sophisticated things without compromising competency.   

The Importance of SELENIUM to Human Health

Adapted from Lancet. 2000 Jul 15;356(9225):233-41

SELENIUM in a nutshell:

An essential trace mineral that is of fundamental importance to human health.

• Selenium (a constituent of selenoproteins) is best known as an antioxidant and catalyst for the production of active thyroid hormone.
• Needed for the proper functioning of the immune system, and appears to be a key nutrient in counteracting the development of virulence and inhibiting HIV progression to AIDS. 
• Required for sperm motility and may reduce the risk of miscarriage. 
• Deficiency has been linked to adverse mood states. 
• Findings have been equivocal in linking selenium to cardiovascular disease risk although other conditions involving oxidative stress and inflammation have shown benefits of a higher selenium status. 
• An elevated selenium intake may be associated with reduced cancer risk. 

Large clinical trials are now planned to confirm or refute this hypothesis. In the context of these health effects, low or diminishing selenium status in some parts of the world, notably in some European countries, is giving cause for concern.

You Shall Not Lack!

Sometimes you are unsatisfied with your life,
While many people in this world are dreaming of your life...

A child on a farm sees a plane fly overhead & dreams of flying.
But a pilot on the plane sees the farmhouse & dreams of returning home.

That's life! Enjoy yours...

If wealth is the secret to happiness,
then the rich should be dancing on the streets.
But only poor kids do that.

If power ensures security, 
then officials should walk unguarded.
But those who live simply, sleep soundly.

If beauty and fame bring ideal relationships,
then celebrities should have the best marriages.

Live simply, walk humbly and love genuinely...
All good will come back to you!

Soft Drink Is Bad For Health

SUGARY DRINKS increase the risk of TYPE 2 DIABETES, HEART DISEASE, and other CHRONIC CONDITIONS.

• People who consume sugary drinks regularly—1 to 2 cans a day or more—have a 26% greater risk of developing type 2 diabetes than people who rarely have such drinks. (46)
• A study that followed 40,000 men for two decades found that those who averaged one can of a sugary beverage per day had a 20% higher risk of having a heart attack or dying from a heart attack than men who rarely consumed sugary drinks. (47) A related study in women found a similar sugary beverage–heart disease link. (48)
• A 22-year-long study of 80,000 women found that those who consumed a can a day of sugary drink had a 75% higher risk of gout than women who rarely had such drinks. (49) Researchers found a similarly-elevated risk in men. (50)
• Dr. Frank Hu, Professor of Nutrition and Epidemiology at Harvard School of Public Health, recently made a strong case that there is sufficient scientific evidence that decreasing sugar-sweetened beverage consumption will reduce the prevalence of obesity and obesity-related diseases. (51)

Soft drinks and bones

• Soda may pose a unique challenge to healthy bones.
• Soda contains high levels of phosphate.
• Consuming more phosphate than calcium can have a deleterious effect on bone health. (54)
• Getting enough calcium is extremely important during childhood and adolescence, when bones are being built.
• Soft drinks are generally devoid of calcium and other healthful nutrients, yet they are actively marketed to young age groups.

References

46. Malik VS, Popkin BM, Bray GA, Despres JP, Willett WC, Hu FB. Sugar-sweetened beverages and risk of metabolic syndrome and type 2 diabetes: a meta-analysis. Diabetes Care. 2010;33:2477-83.
47. de Koning L, Malik VS, Kellogg MD, Rimm EB, Willett WC, Hu FB. Sweetened beverage consumption, incident coronary heart disease, and biomarkers of risk in men. Circulation. 2012;125:1735-41, S1.
48. Fung TT, Malik V, Rexrode KM, Manson JE, Willett WC, Hu FB. Sweetened beverage consumption and risk of coronary heart disease in women. Am J Clin Nutr. 2009;89:1037-42.
49. Choi HK, Willett W, Curhan G. Fructose-rich beverages and risk of gout in women. JAMA. 2010;304:2270-8.
50. Choi HK, Curhan G. Soft drinks, fructose consumption, and the risk of gout in men: prospective cohort study. BMJ. 2008;336:309-12.
51. Hu FB. Resolved: there is sufficient scientific evidence that decreasing sugar-sweetened beverage consumption will reduce the prevalence of obesity and obesity-related diseases. Obes Rev. 2013;14:606-19.
52. Schulze MB, Manson JE, Ludwig DS, et al. Sugar-sweetened beverages, weight gain, and incidence of type 2 diabetes in young and middle-aged women. JAMA. 2004;292:927-34.
53. Palmer JR, Boggs DA, Krishnan S, Hu FB, Singer M, Rosenberg L. Sugar-sweetened beverages and incidence of type 2 diabetes mellitus in African American women. Arch Intern Med. 2008;168:1487-92.
54. Malik VS, Schulze MB, Hu FB. Intake of sugar-sweetened beverages and weight gain: a systematic review. Am J Clin Nutr. 2006;84:274-88.