Putrajaya gets cancer centre

Star: PUTRAJAYA: Information on cancer, notably breast cancer, is now readily available at the Putrajaya Hospital with the setting-up of a resource centre.
The centre will provide knowledge and support to those stricken with the disease and family members.
The Putrajaya Hospital Cancer Resource Centre, the first of its kind in the country, has up-to-date reading material on various cancers, treatments and other vital information.
The centre also provides networking with cancer survivors offering emotional support via Cancer Network Association (KanWork).
Hospital director Dr Mohd Norzi Ghazali said the centre’s role was also to provide general information on cancer to educate the public on cancer, including treatment, medication and post-treatment care.
“What is also important is that it is a platform for those with cancer to come together and share their experience and knowledge,” he said.
“It is also an avenue for partners, family members and friends of patients to get advice and support on how to deal with a cancer patient.”
Dr Norzi said cancer was the second-highest killer in the country after road accidents, with 30,000 new cases detected annually.
Putrajaya Hospital head of breast and endocrine surgical department and consultant surgeon Datuk Dr Noor Hisham Abdullah said the hospital received between 150 and 200 breast cancer cases each year.
“It is important to create greater cancer awareness. According to census, 60% of cancer patients only realised they had cancer at a late stage,” he said.