New Straits Times

Public awareness of cancer is still low despite the growing number of people afflicted with the disease.

"We are, therefore, intensifying efforts to address this lack of awareness problem by working with all relevant organisations to equip the people with adequate information on the disease," Deputy Health Minister Datuk Rosnah Rashid Shirlin said.

"We believe information is vital for people to detect cancer at its early stage as well as to seek appropriate treatment and support," she said at the launch of the second edition of My Journal.

My Journal details the experiences of cancer patients and survivors on their battle against the disease.

Written by consultant medical oncologist Dr Christina Ng, who is also EMPOWERED founder and president, the journal features information on medical tests, treatments, side-effects and the disease's impact on survivors' personal and family life. It has additional cancer information and worksheets to help survivors organise their treatment diary, keep their doctor's appointments and maintain a list of prescribed medication.

In the form of a Filofax, patients can file their medical examination reports or articles that have been an inspiration to them.

Rosnah said 4,000 copies would be distributed to selected government hospitals with Cancer Care units.

The journal will also be available for sale at Pantai Hospital (Kuala Lumpur), Sunway Medical Centre (Petaling Jaya), Sabah Medical Centre and Loh Guan Lye Specialist Centre (Penang) at RM30 per copy.

The proceeds from the sale will be used to produce more such books to ensure continuity in donations to the selected government hospitals.

The journal is available in English, Bahasa Malaysia, Chinese and Tamil.