KUCHING: The Malaysian Urological Foundation (MUF) has received a grant of RM9,500 to conduct research and projects on urological diseases.
Its vice president Dr Clarence Lei Chang Moh said the foundation was thankful for the grant given by three sponsors, namely Astella, Abbive and Astra Zeneca.
He added the foundation supported the Prostate Awareness Campaign 2019 as prostatic problems were the leading cause of health problems.
The two-day campaign, organised by Sarawak General Hospital’s (SGH) Urology Department and MUF at Vivacity Megamall, ends tomorrow.
“According to a landmark study done by Dr Teh Guan Chou and published in the Malaysian Medical Journal in 2001, among the common urinary symptoms affecting the quality of life for men are those of nocturia (56 per cent of men), urinary frequency (50.4 per cent of men) and a sense of incomplete urination (43.5 per cent of men).
“Therefore, I advise the public to assess their own urinary symptoms by filing in the International Prostate Symptoms Score Form,” Dr Lei said in his speech today.
According to the National Cancer Registry of Malaysia, prostate cancer is the fourth leading cause of death among Malaysian men, with 40 per cent of the cancer already in its advanced stage, which is Stage Four, when diagnosed.
“It is important for men to consult their family doctors, especially if there is a family history of prostate or breast cancer,” advised Dr Lei.
The foundation, he explained, was a non-profit organisation. Among its objectives are improving public awareness and education of health professionals, promoting research on the causes and prevention of urological diseases, coordinating with government and private agencies, promoting urologists in the field and raising funds.
SGH head of urology department Dr Teh Guan Chou said prostatic diseases and its associated urinary symptoms were common among men aged 45 and above.
“Only a small percentage of men with urinary symptoms seek professional advice and treatments while many consider them as part of the aging process and are not comfortable to talk about them with their doctors,” he said today.
Quoting an example, he added only 21 per cent of people who attended the prostate campaign had consulted doctors while 79 per cent suffered in silence.
Dr Teh explained that the objective of the campaign was to increase public awareness on the common diseases affecting the prostate gland, to provide opportunities for men aged 45 and above to come forward to discuss urinary symptoms and early detection of serious prostatic diseases like cancer and bladder outlet obstruction from benign prostatic hyperplasia (BPH).
He revealed that on April 20, there would be another campaign at SGH with activities such as measurement of urinary flow rate, urine biochemistry test for blood and infection, digital rectal examination for prostate and a PSA test which would be free for the first 100 participants.
A prostate cancer survivor Joseph Ng, 69, told New Sarawak Tribune that he found out he had prostate cancer at the age of 65.
“After I found out about the prostate cancer, the surgery and operation took place almost immediately. The cancer had actually spread to my lymph nodes,” he said.
Ng added that although he felt fine now, he had to go for blood tests every four months to see if the cancer had spread further.
“It is not just men aged 45 and above who have this issue. It also affects younger men.
“Therefore, I would advise them to go for check-ups,” he said.
Those interested to go for medical check-ups are advised to go to the Prostate Awareness Campaign at Vivacity Megamall which starts from 10am until 6pm tomorrow (Sunday).
They can go for the next campaign which will take place at SGH on April 20.
For enquiries, contact Dr Richelle Chua at 018-2600168.
