Cancer Treatments in Malaysia and How Precision Medicine Can Enhance Outcomes

Cancer is a chronic disease affecting millions worldwide, including Malaysia. The National Cancer Society of Malaysia (NCSM) reported that cancer is the third leading cause of death in Malaysia, with breast, lung, and colorectal cancer being the top three common types. Fortunately, as medical technology and research have improved, so have cancer treatments.

Types of cancer treatment

Chemotherapy

Chemotherapy kills cancer cells using cytotoxic medications. Cytotoxic drugs (also known as antineoplastics) contain chemicals that are toxic to cells and prevent their replication or growth.

They can be administered intravenously or orally and are often prescribed alongside radiation therapy. Unfortunately, cytotoxic drugs can also affect healthy cells, resulting in adverse side effects, including fatigue, nausea, vomiting, and hair loss.

Radiation therapy

Radiation therapy employs high-energy radiation to kill cancer cells. It can be delivered externally or internally and is often utilised with other treatments like surgery or chemotherapy. Patients may experience temporary side effects such as skin irritation or fatigue. However, it can also cause long-term side effects such as heart or lung damage.

Hormone therapy

Hormone therapy uses drugs to block the hormones that fuel certain types of cancer growth, such as breast or prostate cancer. It can be used alone or with other treatments, such as surgery, radiation therapy, or chemotherapy.

In practice, it’s usually given as a pill or injection and works by blocking the hormones that promote cancer growth, such as estrogen in breast cancer or testosterone in prostate cancer. Blocking these hormones can slow or stop cancer growth and even cause cancer cells to shrink.

Immunotherapy

Immunotherapy harnesses the power of the body's immune system to help fight cancer by stimulating it to attack cancer cells; or by introducing man-made immune system proteins that target cancer cells.

Several types of immunotherapy include checkpoint inhibitors, CAR-T cell therapy, and cancer vaccines.

Hyperthermia

Hyperthermia destroys cancer cells by heating the body or a specific part of the body, such as a tumour, to a higher than average temperature. The heat is usually delivered directly to the tumour via microwaves, ultrasound, or radiofrequency.

This treatment can be employed alone or in combination with other treatments, like chemotherapy or radiation therapy.

Cryoablation

In contrast to hyperthermia, extremely cold temperatures are used in cryoablation. Also known as cryotherapy, cryoablation is a minimally invasive cancer treatment that destroys cancer cells.

In practice, a slender, needle-like probe is inserted into the tumour during the procedure, and liquid nitrogen or argon gas is used to ‘freeze’ the cancer cells causing them to undergo necrosis; a process in which they disintegrate and are eventually eliminated by the immune system. Cryoablation is a relatively safe and effective treatment option for prostate, kidney, and liver cancers.

Radiofrequency ablation

High-energy radio waves are used to eliminate cancer cells in radiofrequency ablation (RFA). First, a thin, needle-like probe is inserted into the tumour during this minimally invasive procedure. Then, an electric current is passed through the probe, creating heat that destroys the cancer cells.

Photodynamic therapy

Photodynamic therapy (PDT) uses a photosensitising agent and a special type of light to kill cancer cells. The agent is injected into the bloodstream and accumulates in cancer cells. When activated by a specific wavelength of light, the photosensitising agent produces oxygen that kills the cancer cells.

Stem cell transplant (bone marrow transplant)

A stem cell transplant (bone marrow transplant) replaces diseased bone marrow with healthy stem cells.

This is typically used to treat blood cancers such as leukaemia, lymphoma and multiple myeloma.

Surgery

Surgery is a standard treatment for many types of cancer. It involves physically removing the cancerous tumour or affected tissue from the body. The objective of surgery is to incrementally eliminate as many of the cancerous cells as possible while minimising damage to healthy tissue. Common ones include mastectomy, hysterectomy, colectomy, prostatectomy, etc.

Targeted therapy

Targeted therapy is a specialised type of cancer treatment that targets specific molecules or proteins involved in the spread and growth of cancer cells.

Unlike chemotherapy, which can affect cancerous and healthy cells, targeted therapy is designed to attack only cancer cells. This minimises the damage to healthy tissue.

Precision medicine in cancer treatment

Precision medicine is a new approach to cancer treatment. It tailors treatment to an individual's genetic makeup, lifestyle, and environment. This approach is essentially based on the idea that each patient's cancer is unique, and their treatment should be customised accordingly.

The core objective of precision medicine is to identify treatments that are most likely to be effective for each patient while minimising side effects and reducing the risk of treatment failure. This approach is particularly critical for patients with advanced or hard-to-treat cancers, who may not respond to standard treatments.

Precision medicine also involves diagnostic tests, such as genomic sequencing and molecular profiling, to identify specific mutations or biomarkers that may be targeted with specific treatments. These tests can help doctors identify patients who are most likely to benefit from certain treatments while avoiding treatments that are unlikely to be effective.

Read ‘Precision Medicine: The Upcoming Approach to Disease Treatment and Prevention’ for more.

Cancer treatment cost

Cancer treatment can be expensive, and the costs depend on the cancer type and stage, the type of treatment, and the hospital. Some key factors contributing to the cost of cancer treatment are the cost of drugs, diagnostic tests, and hospitalisation.

Why is cancer treatment expensive?

Cancer treatment is expensive due to the cost of research and development of new drugs and treatments, advanced diagnostic tests, and hospitalisation.

Cancer treatment also requires a team of highly trained medical professionals, which adds to the cost.

Insurance for cancer treatment

Insurance can help cover the cost of cancer treatment, and many insurance companies in Malaysia offer cancer insurance.

Precision medicine insurance

Precision medicine, however, is a new approach to cancer treatment.

Prudential, one of the leading insurance companies in the world, provides Precision Medicine coverage for new or existing customers.

Customisable, flexible and affordable plans that cover medical costs and pay a lump sum in the unfortunate events of accidents, critical illnesses, death or Total and Permanent Disability, such as PRUMy Medical Plus, are also available.

Another great cancer coverage product by Prudential is PRUCancer X. Check it out so you and your loved ones are financially protected and receive the means to take charge and recover from cancer.

Conclusion

Cancer treatment in Malaysia has advanced over the years, offering various options for patients, with precision medicine promising a new approach to cancer treatment that offers personalised treatment based on individual genetic makeup, lifestyle, and environment. While cancer treatment can be expensive, insurance can help cover the cost.

Therefore, staying informed about the latest cancer treatments and insurance options is important to make the best health decisions.