Gleneagles Hospital Kuala Lumpur Honours Cancer Survivors With Heartwarming Tribute
An exhibition featuring inspiring cancer survivor stories will also be open to the public all month long at the hospital's lobby.
By Jeremy Ng — 20 Jun 2023, 10:21 AM
Gleneagles Hospital Kuala Lumpur recently hosted a special event in honour of cancer survivors, with the theme 'Against All Odds — A Tribute to Cancer Survivors'
The event was officiated by Health Minister Dr Zaliha Mustafa, and highlighted the resilience and triumph of cancer patients, as well as their remarkable journey towards recovery.
The patients were joined by loved ones who have played a crucial part in providing care and assistance.
During the event, attendees like Dr Abd Razak Muhamad and others shared their inspiring journeys of overcoming cancer
Consultant orthopaedic specialist at Gleneagles Hospital Kuala Lumpur Dr Abd Razak Muhamad talked about his experience battling chronic myeloid leukaemia, after being first diagnosed in 2006.
"Being a doctor and a patient at the same time was a humbling experience, as I got to view cancer from two perspectives," he said.
Another cancer survivor, Zuraini Kamal, was diagnosed with endometrial cancer in 2012, and founded Cancer Survivors Malaysia in 2014."We want to use this platform to share our stories and raise awareness about cancer. When I was diagnosed with endometrial cancer, I did not think that I would survive. I thought there were no treatments at all. I did not think it could be cured," she said.
For singer and influencer Adzrin Adzhar, one way that has helped her fight cancer is through music. During the event, she even performed empowering songs, which encouraged cancer patients to accept their circumstances and muster the strength to overcome them.
"Since my diagnosis, I took the opportunity to raise awareness about cancer by singing motivational songs and sharing my journey on social media," said Adzrin.
All their journeys, alongside 10 other cancer survivors' stories, are now displayed in Gleneagles Hospital's lobby, as part of an exhibition meant to encourage other cancer patients
The exhibition is open to the public daily from 9am to 5pm at the hospital lobby at Block B.
The stories of cancer survivors will also be featured on Gleneagles Hospital Kuala Lumpur's Facebook and Instagram.
According to Gleneagles Hospital Kuala Lumpur CEO Hoo Ling Lee, the heartwarming event was a tribute to both cancer survivors and their caregivers alike
"This celebration goes beyond survival — it is about saluting the fighting spirit shown by cancer survivors and their determination to battle their disease.
"As a healthcare provider, we see individuals fighting cancer every day. These patients need our support, as cancer diagnosis and treatments can have a significant impact not only on the patient, but also their loved ones.
“By sharing the stories of cancer survivors, we hope to bring about some optimism and the strength of mind for patients and their caregivers to persevere through treatment," she said.
Health Minister Dr Zaliha also talked about various initiatives launched by the government to promote the wellbeing of Malaysians
"The Agenda National Malaysia Sihat (ANMS) promotes healthy lifestyles and behaviours, such as regular exercise, healthy eating, and avoiding tobacco and alcohol. These efforts are aimed at reducing the risk factors associated with non-communicable diseases (NCD) including cancer and empowering individuals to take control of their own health.
"In addition, the HPV and Hep B vaccination programmes are part of the continuous efforts by the ministry to prevent cervical and liver cancer respectively," she said.
All in all, Gleneagles Hospital Kuala Lumpur reiterated its support of the Ministry of Health's efforts in addressing the growing demand for cancer care in Malaysia
Gleneagles Hospital Kuala Lumpur is a subsidiary of IHH Healthcare, which signed a Memorandum of Understanding with the Ministry of Health back in 2022 to fully sponsor radiotherapy and radiosurgery for 500 patients from government hospitals.
These patients were identified and referred by the ministry and their designated specialists.
They will receive the treatment across seven of IHH Healthcare Malaysia's hospitals, including Gleneagles Hospital Kuala Lumpur.
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