Dr Hany Ariffin

According Dr Hany Ariffin, contrary to common believe, children do get cancer too. In Malaysia, there are about 800 cases around every year, with the most common cancer being leukaemia (45%) and brain tumours (15%).

Dr Hany claimed that childhood cancer has benefited from precision medicine and targeted therapy. The recognition of the biological heterogeneity of neoplastic cells has facilitated allocation of therapy with appropriate intensity. Paediatric oncologists are very aware of the long-term side effects of cancer treatment. Thus, current protocols are constantly attempting to reach a balance between improving cure and reducing late effects of treatment.