Who would have ever thought there would ever be a Max Family Society Malaysia, a Max Global Network patient support group, 10 years ago? It took a courageous first step to be where we are today.
When I first got involved in patient support and advocacy work with The Max Foundation 11 years ago, I remember vividly the most common questions: “Am I the only one diagnosed with this disease in the country? Is there another person who is having similar condition like me?” These questions made me dream for a space where Malaysian patients and caregivers could meet each other and share their experiences.
The dream slowly became a reality when I got to know two individuals, Dr Razak and Sahimi, who are living with chronic myeloid leukemia (CML.) It was at the hematology clinic at the national reference hospital where we started our first informal meeting. We made an important decision that day: to form a patient support group!
That was 10 years ago. Since then, I have witnessed the amazing growth of our patients and our physician team. Over these 10 years, with the support and guidance from The Max Foundation, this joint collaboration has had tremendous achievements:
In the last decade, we have reached over 10,000 patients and caregivers in Malaysia.
One of the most significant things in my journey with The Max Foundation has been the opportunity to work with so many amazing individuals – each one of them teaches me the meaning of life, shows me the courage, and prove that nothing is impossible.
It was a brave moment in taking the first step to call for those initial informal meeting, which marked the formation Max Family. I strongly believe that through The Max Foundation and Max Family, we are able to do more for our cancer community. Cancer touches everyone, but it does not only bring negative experiences. You and I have the power to turn the challenges into opportunities and change a life.
I am looking forward for another 10 years of Max Family!
Mei Ching Ong is the Region Head of Asia Pacific, Eastern Europe and Central Asia. Mei Ching is based in our regional office located in Kuala Lumpur, Malaysia. Although growing up in a town facing the South China Sea with beautiful beaches, she is enjoying mountains, jungles and greens more than water, that explains she is spending most of her early morning during weekends in greens. Believing in everyone is connected with each another in this cycle we call life, Mei Ching also believes everyone has roles to play to strengthen the overall well-being of lives of human.
October is my favorite month of the year. It marks a changing of the seasons in both the southern and northern hemispheres that brings a sense of reflection and excitement. As such, there could not be a more appropriate month to celebrate theMaximize Life Global Cancer Awareness Campaign, an initiative that encourages people impacted by cancer to reflect on their experiences, celebrate their resiliency, and share their stories with the world.
In Guatemala, there are 14,200 new cases of cancer a year and from this amount 9,100 people die of cancer or 64.7%. Most of these diagnoses could have been prevented or better treated if diagnosed early. In Guatemala only the persons who have access to the national social security plan have free services and treatment, but poor quality and lack of medications or in most occasions. People who do not have social security have to pay for health services and for medications. As per statistics taken from Globocan 2008, the most common cancers in Guatemala are prostate, cervix, stomach, breast and lung cancers.
They’re patients, physicians, pharmacists, police officers, caregivers, and cancer care advocates stepping up to help vulnerable patients continue to have access to treatment throughout the global pandemic closures.
