PREVENTING CANCER
Previously thought to only affect high-income earners, we now know that cancer is shifting to be a global disease with incidence rising rapidly in low and middle income countries.
Up to 50% of cancers are preventable. Unfortunately, while the majority of lung and skin cancers are preventable by avoiding smoking and sun exposure respectively, less is known about preventing common cancers like breast and prostate cancers. Developing new ways of preventing cancers could save lives and help our future generations.

How we’ve made a difference

  1. Established the largest cohort of breast cancer patients and health controls, where >8,000 women have contributed to a study to uncover the links between diet, lifestyle, and genetic factors with breast cancer risk in Malaysians.
  2. Established Malaysia’s first cancer prevention trial, testing the effect of drinking 2 glasses of soy a day on risk of developing breast cancer.
  3. Identified potential ways of stimulating patients’ immune systems so that their own immune system can help prevent pre-cancerous growths from transforming into cancers.

What we’re doing now

  1. Our scientists are working with researchers at the Malaysian Palm Oil Board to evaluate the impact of anti-oxidants from palm oil on the risk of breast cancer in Asian women.
  2. Our scientists are working with researchers at the University of Liverpool in developing a vaccine for the prevention and treatment of oral and nasopharyngeal cancers.