Cancer awareness urged in Sarawak and Zimbabwe amid rising cases

Health officials in Sarawak and Zimbabwe are emphasizing the critical importance of early cancer detection following recent data on rising or prevalent cancer cases.

In Sarawak, Malaysia, breast and colorectal cancers remain among the most frequently recorded illnesses. Out of 2,995 new cancer cases recorded in the region in 2025, breast cancer accounted for 476 cases and colorectal cancer for 471. Minister Fatimah Abdullah highlighted that breast cancer is the most common cancer among women in Malaysia and urged the public to seek timely screening to move from “late detection to early detection.”

In Zimbabwe, breast cancer was recorded as the second most common cancer among women in 2024, with an estimated 2,483 new cases. Oncologist Dr. Nomsa Tsikayi expressed concern regarding the emergence of cases among women in their 20s and 30s. Medical professionals are urging women to seek professional medical assessments rather than relying on herbal or spiritual remedies, noting that many patients present at facilities only after the disease has reached an advanced stage.