Likas Women and Children's hospital director Dr Tan Bee Hwai said there are now 6,500 patients doing follow-up treatment at the hospital's Radiotherapy and Nuclear Centre, as compared to about 3,500 in 2013.
"This shows that the increase has gone beyond the usual 1 cancer patient per 10,000 population ratio.
"On average, there are two or three cancer patients in 10,000 people now; this is expected to increase in the future," he said during the sixth 1 Malaysia Festive celebration for cancer survivors here.
The center provides cancer treatment for the people of Sabah, Labuan, northern Sarawak, and occasionally Brunei.
The most common forms of cancer affecting these patients are breast, colorectal, cervical and nasopharyngeal cancers.He attributed a genetical defect as the root cause to the development of cancers.
Dr Tan (pic) noted that the growing number of patients seeking treatment could also mean increased awareness among the people on cancer diseases.
"People are confident of the radiology centre, which provides treatment services at par with hospitals abroad.
"Besides extending the lives of patients, we are also aiming to improve their quality of life."
Present at the celebration was Queen Elizabeth Hospital 2 director Dr Razak Tambi.
By Olivia Miwil
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