14/07/2025

MONDAY | JULY 14, 2025

26

HEALTH

Size matters in prostate cancer

roundtable session organised by Sunway Medical Centre, Sunway City in collaboration with Novartis Malaysia last Wednesday. “Yes, size usually matters. When the prostate is enlarged or urinary symptoms appear, that should trigger a check, not a shrug. The assumption that it is ‘just ageing’ can delay diagnosis and lead to poorer outcomes.” Guan Hee elaborated that the five-year relative survival rate for stage four prostate cancer is only 43.2%, according to the Malaysian Study on Cancer Survival – a stark reminder of the price of late diagnosis. Bridging gaps in prostate cancer care Critical gaps remain in how Malaysian men approach prostate health, including: 0 Delayed symptom recognition Urinary changes or an enlarged prostate are often ignored instead of investigated 0 Late-stage diagnosis Many cases are only detected when the disease is advanced, potentially due to the limitations of conventional imaging methods, which can miss small or early metastases 0 Limited awareness of advanced diagnostic and treatment options Addressing these gaps is key, say experts, particularly as Malaysia’s population continues to age. “When patients are diagnosed

S IZE matters – especially when it comes to prostate cancer. For men, an enlarged prostate can be one of the earliest signs that something is amiss. However, an enlarged prostate and other symptoms such as difficulty urinating are often dismissed as normal signs of ageing. Ignoring these signs can lead to serious consequences. Burden of advanced prostate cancer In Malaysia, prostate cancer is the third most common cancer among men. Incidence rates rise steeply after 65, from 31.3 per 100,000 men aged 60-64 to 70.6 per 100,000 men aged 65–69. It continues to increase exponentially with age – placing more men at risk as the nation’s population grows older. Yet, close to three-quarters of cases are diagnosed in advanced stages, where complications are more severe, treatment options more limited and survival rates significantly reduced. “Prostate cancer is insidious, often silent and frequently ignored until it is too late,” said consultant in urology and urologic oncology Prof Dr Tan Guan Hee at a media o Enlarged gland, difficulty urinating should trigger check

If you are experiencing urinary symptoms, speak to your doctor about screening. – 123RFPIC

Theranostics:

Personalised

RHB, IJN partner to deploy mobile clinic RHB Banking Group has partnered with the National Heart Institute (IJN) to advance healthcare access, staff well-being and financial inclusivity. Under this three-year partnership, RHB and IJN will deploy a 40-foot mobile healthcare clinic equipped with essential diagnostic facilities to deliver preventive care, health screenings and awareness programmes, especially for underserved communities. In the next three years, RHB and IJN will be expanding this initiative further by deploying the mobile health unit to reach even more underserved areas. To date, IJN Mobile Clinic has journeyed across 10 states, reaching 192 communities with essential screenings and health education. Your prostate, your call An enlarged prostate is not just an inconvenience – it can be a warning sign. If you are experiencing urinary symptoms, speak to your doctor about screening. If you have been diagnosed with advanced prostate cancer, ask if PSMA imaging and RLT are right for you. Once visualised, RLT can then be used to deliver radioactive particles directly to the cancer cells. This targeted approach helps to spare healthy tissue and reduces potential systemic side effects. This gives RLT a favourable safety profile that is also well tolerated. This is a significant advancement for patients with metastatic castration-resistant prostate cancer, who may have already exhausted conventional therapies. “We often say: if we can see it, we can treat it. That is exactly what theranostics offers,” added Teik Hin.

early, their chances of survival and quality of life are significantly improved. The challenge is ensuring men get to us before the disease becomes aggressive and spreads to the bone. PSA tests alone cannot detect this. They only measure the level of prostate-specific antigen in the blood, but does not reveal where it has spread. That is where greater awareness and theranostics, an innovative combination of therapy and diagnostics, can make a difference,” said consultant clinical oncologist Dr Nik Muhd Aslan Abdullah. He added that targeted therapy could shift outcomes significantly. “With advanced tools such as precise imaging and staging, we are now able to personalise treatment based on a patient’s unique disease profile. This means more effective results, even for those with advanced prostate cancer.”

diagnosis and therapy in one A promising innovation in this space is theranostics – a dual approach that combines targeted imaging with targeted therapy. One of the most advanced forms of theranostics in prostate cancer today involves PSMA (prostate-specific membrane antigen) imaging and radioligand therapy (RLT). “PSMA is a biomarker found on prostate cancer cells – over 80% of men with advanced disease have high PSMA expression,” explained consultant nuclear medicine physician Assc Prof Dr Tan Teik Hin. “PSMA imaging is a scan that lights up areas with high PSMA levels that can detect tumours as small as 0.3cm and determine how far the cancer has spread. Its greater accuracy allows us to be incredibly precise in tracking and mapping out the disease.”

(From left) Teik Hin, Guan Hee and Nik Muhd.

Malaysian veterinarians face mounting challenges

MALAYSIAN veterinarians are at a critical juncture, grappling with significant operational constraints, a public understanding gap and widespread issues of stress and burnout, according to a white paper titled Going Beyond: Charting a Sustainable Future for Veterinary Medicine in Southeast Asia , commissioned by Boehringer Ingelheim, which highlights pressing challenges impacting the veterinary profession across the region. The white paper was recently presented during the 15th anniversary celebration of Boehringer Ingelheim’s Animal Health division in Malaysia. The white paper, informed by a regional survey with 335 veterinarians and veterinary staff

across six Southeast Asian countries and in-depth interviews with veterinarians, revealed that a majority of Malaysian vets face a triple threat. These cover perception of costs, operational strain and workplace well-being. The challenges in Malaysia mirror broader regional trends, including high rates of stress (74%) and staff shortages (43%), compounded by a lack of public understanding regarding their vital role. Drawing insights from Malaysia, Indonesia, Singapore, the Philippines, Thailand and Vietnam, the white paper underscores a widespread crisis of underappreciation, operational strain and burnout, directly impacting the vital role veterinarians play in animal and public health.

Industry and academic leaders at a panel session on ‘Charting a Sustainable Future for Veterinary Medicine in Malaysia’.

critical challenges such as economic constraints and staff shortages, urging urgent, collaborative solutions across education, public understanding and mental well-being support to ensure a sustainable future for the profession.

Despite indispensable contributions in companion animal care, livestock management, wildlife conservation and zoonotic disease prevention, their extensive work often remains unrecognised. The white paper pointed to their