WHAT began in Penang as a homegrown health literacy and patient advocacy platform has grown into a national movement for better breast cancer care. TalkHealthAsia.com, founded by Penang-born Lim Po Lin, brought together more than 700 patients, survivors, healthcare professionals, advocates, industry leaders and medical corporations at the Malaysian Breast Cancer Summit 2025 (MBCS25) in Kuala Lumpur recently.
MBCS25 featured four programmes:
- A Patient-Survivor Programme equipping women with practical tools from diagnosis to survivorship
- A Healthcare Professional Development Programme upskilling doctors nationwide
- A Wellness Programme supporting mental, physical and emotional well-being.
- A Patient Navigation Programme in collaboration with Roche, to equip patient navigators with psychosocial support tools
Over 20 renowned specialists shared their expertise, including Professor Emeritus Dato’ Dr Yip Cheng-Har, Dr Mastura Md Yusof, Dr Ng Char Hong and Dr Premitha Damodaran.
MBCS25 builds on the momentum of last year’s summit in Penang, where patients and doctors from across Malaysia gathered for the first time outside the Klang Valley to exchange knowledge and share lived experiences. This year’s theme, “Stronger Together”, reflected the platform’s Penang-rooted belief that change happens when patients, doctors and policymakers work side by side.
“Every one of us in this room is part of the solution for better breast cancer care in Malaysia. Whether you’re a nurse, a researcher, a policymaker, an industry leader, a doctor, a patient or a caregiver, your role matters,” Lim Po Lin, founder and CEO of TalkHealthAsia, at the summit on Aug 9-10. The Penang-born advocate founded the platform after her own experience navigating Malaysia’s healthcare system while caring for her mother, who had cancer.
“We are stronger together, and our journeys continue,” said Emeritus Professor Dato’ Dr Tunku Sara Tunku Ahmad Yahaya in her keynote address. A breast cancer survivor herself and an orthopaedic surgeon by profession, she reflected that without the friends she had made in the United States during treatment, all the way to those in Malaysia who supported her, it would have felt like losing an arm. Reflecting on the summit’s theme, she added “Friends are very important”.
In addition to enhancing breast cancer training for over 100 consultants, TalkHealthAsia partnered with Pfizer to provide access to over 100 trainees from across the country, including states such as Kedah, Kelantan, Penang, Sabah, and Sarawak. TalkHealthAsia believes the future of breast cancer care in Malaysia rests on equipping the next generation of doctors to serve the people.
The CPD-accredited programme was endorsed by the Malaysian Medical Association Wilayah Persekutuan, College of Surgeons Academy of Medicine Malaysia, and Malaysian Oncological Society.
MBCS25 created a space for sisterhood, welcoming support group advocates such as Breast Cancer Welfare Association Malaysia, Pink Unity, Breast Cancer Support Group Johor Bahru, BELove Cancer Society, Pink Light and more. Together, they represented different states, languages and lived experiences.
“What pains me is seeing too many women miss out on the best care possible, simply because of their social circumstances,” said Dr Kiley Loh Wei-Jen, breast medical oncologist and MBCS25 Partnerships and Advocacy Chair. “Breast cancer is already a complex disease with many different types, and every woman deserves the highest level of care. By empowering women with knowledge and peer support, we give them the tools to demand the treatment they deserve.”
The summit also unveiled findings from TalkHealthAsia’s Pink Study, a nationwide survey of patient experiences in breast cancer care. These new insights will help shape the future of Malaysian breast care, sparking new avenues for collaboration across the public, private, and policy sectors.
Findings highlighted gaps in communication, post-treatment care and access to newer treatments. The MBCS25 committee noted that evolving patient needs and advancements in treatment modalities call for a united, multidisciplinary push to refresh Malaysia’s Clinical Practice Guidelines (CPG) for breast cancer, in addition to the work currently being done by the Ministry of Health.
“The guidelines have not been updated since 2019, meaning treatments developed after 2019 are not included. It’s essential that the guidelines are updated regularly, so patients can benefit from the most up-to-date treatment,” said Dr Yip, breast surgeon and MBCS25 principal adviser.
While 68.4% of respondents had private insurance, many still faced challenges with denied claims, uncovered costs or delays. “Cancer leads to families making significant expenditures, sometimes beyond what they earn. When they have to spend so much out-of-pocket, it leaves very little for their family. It’s not just about paying the hospital bills, but also everything that comes along after,” said Professor Dr Nirmala Bhoo-Pathy, clinical epidemiologist and public health physician.
“Cancer treatments are becoming more advanced, yet many policies have not caught up to include newer treatments like oral targeted therapies that could help patients avoid unnecessary suffering and costs,” added Dr Mastura, clinical oncologist and MBCS25 Scientific Media Chair. “Patients should not be left feeling at fault for inheriting genes or developing cancer as they age, only to discover their coverage falls short of their needs.”
“Cancer treatments save lives, but their effects ripple far beyond the hospital,” said Dr Muhammad Azrif Ahmad Annuar, clinical oncologist and MBCS25 Scientific Oncology Chair. “It’s important for young doctors to learn to work across disciplines to manage not just the medical side, but also the physical, emotional and practical challenges that follow a woman well beyond treatment.”
Over 70% voiced a need for psychosocial and emotional support, needs which were often unmet. “The numbers reflect what we see in the clinic every day. These aren’t just statistics. They’re daily realities for Malaysian women facing breast cancer,” said TalkHealthAsia’s Lim Po Lin.
MBCS25 shows that when every voice is heard, from policy to patient, real change is within reach. The summit’s cross-sector collaboration sets a bold precedent for the future of breast care in Malaysia.
Pix courtesy of TalkHealthAsia