By Sim YH
BANDAR SERI BEGAWAN, NOV 17 – In Brunei Darussalam, as many as 1 in 4 men are estimated to be at risk of getting cancer in their lifetime.
The three types of cancer that are frequently experienced by men in this country are colorectal cancer by 23 percent, lung cancer by 14.4 percent and prostate cancer by 10.9 percent.
The number of new cases of prostate cancer also shows an increase from 22 new cases in 2020 to 56 new cases in 2022.
“The same trend can also be seen in new cases of testicular cancer with 4 new cases in 2021, 10 new cases in 2022 and 12 new cases in 2023.”
The statistics were shared by the Minister of Health, Yang Berhormat Dato Seri Setia Dr Haji Mohammad Isham bin Haji Jaafar when speaking at the Men’s Health Awareness Month – Movember 2024 which took place at One City Shopping Center, today.
He stated that statistics from the Brunei Darussalam Cancer Registry (BDCR) throughout the period 2002-2021, most men’s cancers are diagnosed in the late stages when it has already spread.
While in 2023, colon cancer is the highest cause of cancer death among men with 40 deaths, followed by lung cancer with 29 deaths and prostate cancer with 17 deaths.
“This statistic is very worrying especially when most of the cancer cases can be treated completely if detected at an early stage.”
Yang Berhormat Dato Seri Setia Dr Haji Mohammad Isham also emphasized that frequent cancer screening tests by many men can treat cancer earlier and thus reduce the number of deaths.
Accordingly, he advised men to act immediately to make changes to improve their health and undergo the screening tests that have been prepared.
“The Ministry of Health provides screening services under the National Health Screening Program (PPKK) which, among other things, provides colorectal screening for citizens and permanent residents of Brunei Darussalam aged 50-75,” he said.
At the same time, he commented, the Brunei Cancer Center as the main cancer care and management center also offers a number of services from the early detection stage to the treatment stage, including counseling and testing services for those at high risk with the latest treatment methods and modern technology to detect and treat.
In addition, the Brunei Cancer Center also regularly collaborates with the Ministry of Health and also national and international cancer organizations to move the cancer prevention agenda in Brunei Darussalam.
