Cancer care is a comprehensive healthcare program and involves the different evolution stages as set out in the WHO care programme. It starts all the way from the pre-disease to the end-of -life from the disease. Keeping this in mind, the Society has from its establishment in 1968, been focussed on the different aspects within its capability. As a NonGovernmental Organistation (NGO), it had to depend on general public support and fund donation for its operation
RELAY FOR LIFE was initiated in 1985 by a volunteer of the American Cancer Society, Dr Gordon Klatt. Penang was the first cancer society in the country to be accorded the franchise. The start-up relay was held in 2005 and since held annually up to 2019.
Apart from its role in fundraising, it was an important step for public participation and awareness of cancer control. The participants were from different institutions and organisations and comprising mainly of the young, a good start for early commitment and continuing potential support in time for the population.
In the first year 40 cancer survivors joined us. The numbers grew year by year and in 2016 we had 278, locals as well and outstation participants . They were a testimony of what early detection and treament can do and a real life inspiration evidence of effect a good cancer care program benefit.
The event or its equivalent is vital for continuance of the Society's efforts which started more than half a century ago to minimise healthcare cancer risk of the population and to better the life quality
Videos on Relay for Life Penang - click on the pictures below to view
With the development of more comprhensive private facilities for mammograms , the early initial setup of screening at the Toh Kadijah Komtar became less able to sustain. As it faced an exit from the game, the Penang State Government stepped timely in with the annoucement of a sponsored free mammography services.
On May 15, 2013 Penang Chief Minister Lim Guan Eng announced that Penang state government will introduce free mammogram and health examinations for women in the state through its newly formed women’s brigade to all women in every district in the state. “We are definitely looking at collaborating with the private sector on this as all our programmes are conducted through public private partnerships (PPP),” Lim said
State Agriculture and Agro-Based Industry, Rural Development and Health Committee chairman Dr Afif Bahardin reported on February 18, 2019 that some 11,834 women, aged 35 and above, had their free screening from 2015 to 2018. “A total of 828 or 7% of the women have been referred to the hospital for further checkup and treatment
From 2019 the Penang government has apportioned RM2.658 million for a free mammogram programme, from this year (2019) until 2022 and the state government had agreed to work with The National Population and Family Development Board (LPPKN) for the program, starting this year. “This incentive by the state government under the ‘Program Penang Sihat’ is a collaboration between Penang Women’s Development Corporation (PWDC) and Pink Penang Cancer Support Group.
30 May 2019 Deputy Women, Family and Community Development Minister, Hannah Yeoh, remarked that Penang recorded the highest number of breast cancer cases in the country at 50 cases per 100,000 women due to higher level of self awareness. “This year, the federal government through LPPKN allocated RM20 million for three programmes for women nationwide. Of the total, RM11.4 million is allocated for the mammogram subsidy programme, RM5 million for human papillomavirus vaccination (HPV) programme and RM3.6 million for cervical cancer screening programme. Penang’s women are very fortunate because other than the 1,500 mammogram quota from the federal government, the state government has also agreed to sponsor 5,000 women for the free mammogram, this makes up for up to 6,500 eligible women to benefit from the breast cancer screening this year,” she added.
