All around the world, everyone is battling against COVID-19 with a great sense of urgency due to the pandemic’s impact on the economy and wellbeing of the people. However, we should not lose sight of the equally important fight against cancer, which has and will continue to impact the lives of patients, caregivers and our society for a long time to come.
In Malaysia, almost 9 out of 10 lung cancer patients are diagnosed in late stages1. Lung cancer is one of the most worrying and lethal cancers, as late-stage diagnosis is often associated with a lower survival rate15.
For these patients, the chances of getting cured are unlikely, hence the treatments prescribed to them are aimed at controlling the tumor and relieving symptoms instead93. Thus, it is not surprising that up until a few short years ago, the outlook for lung cancer patients was bleak. But now, there is renewed hope. With the right treatment, their life could even be prolonged14, and they can spend more precious time with their loved ones while enjoying a good quality of life.
This relatively new cancer treatment is called immunotherapy, which works by harnessing the patient’s own immune system to fight cancer94. For example, a study has shown that immunotherapy has the potential to reduce the risk of death by half, prolonging not just overall survival but also progression-free survival (defined as the length of time that a patient lives with the disease but showing no signs of getting worse, during and after the treatment of said disease)95.
For some people, the additional few months of survival might not mean much to them. But for others, it could feel like they have been given a new lease of life. Some patients would take this opportunity to live life to the fullest, spending time with family doing what they love, instead of being confined to their hospital beds.
Having access to life-saving cancer treatments should be a right and not a privilege. As a member of the medical community, I would like to urge the MOH to look into the possibility of making immunotherapy accessible to the wider Malaysian public.
In a profession with the fundamental mission to save lives, a greater access to effective and innovative treatments are not only beneficial but also highly necessary, particularly for members of society who cannot access it most.
This is especially the case for a disease like lung cancer which can happen to anyone, regardless of their age, gender and lifestyle habits. In fact, studies have shown that even those who have never smoked in their lives could get it96. The disease burden is also high as the 5-year relative survival rate of lung cancer is only 11%, which is the lowest among all cancer types in Malaysia with a median survival time of only 6.8 months15. Thus, the treatment and prevention of lung cancer should be seen as a significant national priority.
While immunotherapy has been touted as one of the biggest breakthroughs in oncology by many, it is currently not available in the Malaysian public hospitals. It has not been listed on the Ministry of Health (MOH) Medicines Formulary, also known as the Blue Book. What this means is that patients who struggle with the reality of juggling the economical constraints that living with cancer brings, or do not have insurance coverage or adequate insurance coverage, he or she might not be able to receive the immunotherapy treatment that they need.
It is important that quality healthcare is accessible to all for Malaysia to become a more inclusive nation. I believe that by expanding the access to immunotherapy for those in need, we can help to further drive this important societal need and achieve that common aspiration together. Accessibility to effective treatment is a key step in strengthening our countrymen and thus, building the nation towards a healthier future.
