KUCHING: A staggering 2,149 new cases of liver cancer were diagnosed in Malaysia in the year 2020 alone, a stark reminder of the pervasive nature of the disease.
Deputy Director General (Research and Technical Support) Ministry of Health Datuk Dr Nor Fariza Ngah said those diagnosed with liver cancer in the past would have invariably been tied up with the thoughts of despair and hopelessness.
“However, with the advancement in the realm of therapeutics coupled with multi-disciplinary integrated approaches in the management of liver cancer, we have emerged with a beacon of hope in providing holistic care for our patients, with the aim to improve clinical outcome and more crucially, quality of life of our patients,” she said.
Speaking at the 1st Liver Cancer Update 2024 held here today (Jan 13), Dr Nor Fariza described the event as a meeting of minds and a convergence of diverse medical disciplines sitting together, recognizing the importance of working as a team.
“We recognize the indispensable role of an integrated approach that combines not one but all; medical, surgical, radiological, oncological, pathological, and palliative care in the management and caring of patients with liver cancer,” she said.
“With this update, we are about to be enlightened with state-of-the-art talks from experts in the field of liver cancer, including the changing epidemiology, treatment, and management of liver cancer. We hope that this will help us improve our knowledge and hence prove the best for our patients,” she added.
Meanwhile, organising chairperson Dr Victoria Kok said liver cancer is ranked 6th in Malaysia according to Globocan 2020. With the changing epidemiology, she said, the incidence and prevalence of liver cancer are indeed on the rise.
“I am delighted to have a diverse group of experts, including gastroenterologists and hepatologists, hepatobiliary surgeons, oncologists, radiologists, pathologists, and a palliative physician from around the globe, near and far, who have converged to share insights, exchange experiences, and contribute to sharing knowledge on liver cancer with us.
“This conference stands as a testament to our collective commitment to sharing, advancing, and fostering knowledge among healthcare professionals in the realm of liver cancer,” she said.
The event was masterminded by the dedicated gastroenterology and hepatobiliary teams of Sarawak General Hospital, standing as a beacon of progress towards conquering liver cancer.
Among those who present were Sarawak General Hospital director Dr Ngian Hie Ung; Datuk Dr Khaira and Mark Hardin, head and representatives of Internal Medicine and Surgical Department respectively; speakers, sponsors, and delegates.
