ISSUE 1 | 2018
MAKNA | MAJLIS KANSER NASIONAL | NATIONAL CANCER COUNCIL
WHAT’S NEW
FRESH OFF THE LAB
A Running Legacy:
MAKNA
Founder’s Night Run 2017 Page 11
Targeting TELOMERASE ACTIVITY in triple
NEGATIVE BREAST CANCER
cells
Page 16
ACROSS THE SEA
Ride
For Life
in Vietnam Page 27
LIFE GOES ON
An eye opening
HOME VISIT
to Sibu, Sarawak Page 33
ON THE COVER
THE UNCOMMON GOOD
– A DREAM MADE TRUE Page 21
SCAN HERE FOR DIGITAL COPIES
Contents 01 FROM THE PRESIDENT’S DESK
WHAT’S NEW 05 Good Vibes only on World Cancer Day 09 The Beauty Buy that Gives Back to Society 11
A Running Legacy: MAKNA Founder’s Night Run 2017
16
Targeting telomerase activity in triple negative breast cancer cells
FRESH OFF THE LAB
ON THE COVER 21 “The Uncommon Good” – A dream made true ACROSS THE SEA 27 Ride For Life in Vietnam
VOLUNTEER 29 We Empower Our Volunteers to Empower Others 31 International Volunteer Day, A Day to Celebrate Together
Editorial Penasihat / Advisors Dato’ Mohd Farid Ariffin Farahida Mohd Farid Editorial Leidys Mårquez Prema Ramasamy Penyumbang / Contributors Choo Chin Ting Hai Nguyen Noor Faiza Abd Aziz Nurtasya Aqilah Mustafa Timothy Dharvind Denis Van Nguyen Vemanna Appannah
LIFE GOES ON 33 An eye opening home visit to Sibu, Sarawak
IMPORTANT MESSAGE: The content here is general in nature and is provided for information purpose only. It is not a substitute for professional medical advice. Please consult your physician on any questions or concerns you may have regarding your health.
Diterbitkan oleh / Published by National Cancer Council (MAKNA) BG 03A & 05, Ground Floor, Megan Ambassy, 225 Jalan Ampang, 50450 Kuala Lumpur. T +603-2162 9178 F +603-2162 9203 E makna@makna.org.my www.makna.org.my www.facebook.com/maknacancer www.twitter.com/makna_malaysia Dicetak oleh / Printed by Percetakan Jiwabaru Sdn Bhd No.2 Jalan P/8, Kawasan MIEL Fasa 2, Bandar Baru Bangi, 43650 Bangi, Selangor Darul Ehsan. T +603-8925 6688 F +603-8925 1688 Rekacipta / Design SG Global Support Services Sdn Bhd Level 18, Axiata Tower, No. 9 Jalan Stesen Sentral 5, KL Sentral, 50470 Kuala Lumpur. T +603-2260 1717 F +603 2260 2211 www.sgglobalsupport.com
esk President’s D Desk DATO’ MOHD FARID ARIFFIN FOUNDER & PRESIDENT MAKNA
01 | NEOPLASIA ISSUE 1/2018
TOGETHER FOR THE FUTURE
Our Malaysian social sector has come a long way in the last two decades. The world has evolved rapidly and in MAKNA we’ve done our best to keep up with that evolution. Today, our commitment is not only with our beneficiaries, but with our sector. We now understand the need of building a more cohesive environment among Non-Profits, because regardless our cause, together we stand stronger – and the future of social work in our country, will require us to be united.
BERSAMA DEMI MASA DEPAN
Sektor sosial di Malaysia telah berkembang dengan pesat sejak dua dekad yang lalu. Dunia pula telah mengalami perubahan yang pantas dan kami di MAKNA telah mencuba sebaik mungkin untuk bergerak selari dengan kemajuan ini. Kami kini memahami keperluan membina persekitaran yang lebih kohesif di kalangan Pertubuhan Bukan Keuntungan, kerana tidak kira apa yang kita perjuangkan, kita bersama berdiri teguh demi masadepan kerja sosial negara yang memerlukan kita bersatu demi sebuah kejayaan.
Honouring this precept, last November, MAKNA was greatly humbled by the opportunity of hosting the NPO Forum and Fair 2017 – “The Uncommon Good”, at the Kuala Lumpur Convention Centre.
Sehubungan itu, MAKNA berasa sangat bertuah kerana pada bulan November yang lalu kami menganjurkan sebuah Forum dan pameran untuk industri (Not-for- profit) 2017 ini dengan tema “The Uncommon Good” di Pusat Konvensyen Kuala Lumpur.
During the two - day – event we welcomed our esteemed counterparts in the non-profit industry, as well as members of the public, many of whom are donors or volunteers with NPOs. The event was held with the aim of bringing the sector together, and start much needed conversations for the future of Malaysia.
Sepanjang acara selama dua hari tersebut, kami telah menerima penyertaan rakan-rakan dari pertubuhan bukan keuntungan serta orang ramai termasuk para penderma dan sukarelawan NPO. Acara tersebut dianjurkan bagi merapatkan jurang dalam sektor ini serta memulakan wacana yang diperlukan demi masa depan Malaysia.
Although the speed in which the world is moving towards technological progress can’t be stopped, our work will likely remain the same. To be a social worker is to potentialize the traits that make us human – our love, empathy, and compassion for those in unfavourable conditions. Our capacity of coming together and building towards a brighter future for our countries won’t be something that AI and machines will replace easily. Today we understand that our industry seeks a more humane future, and we hope “The Uncommon Good” was a steady first step towards building one. In this issue of Neoplasia, my wish is that you will feel inspired by the work that NPOs do, as an extraordinary industry motored by our humanity and our love.
Walaupun dunia berubah dengan pantas seiring dengan kemajuan teknologi, namun tugas kita tetap sama. Seorang pekerja sosial yang baik perlu menggunakan sepenuhnya ciri-ciri yang terdapat dalam diri seorang insan – kasih sayang, perasaan belas dan kasihan terhadap mereka yang kurang bernasib baik. Keupayaan kita untuk berusaha dan bersatu dalam membina masa depan negara yang lebih gemilang tidak boleh digantikan dengan mudah oleh AI dan mesin teknologi. Industri kita pada hari ini memerlukan masa depan yang lebih berperikemanusiaan, dan kami berharap slogan “The Uncommon Good” dapat menjadi pegangan untuk bersama-sama mencapai hasrat ini. Bagi terbitan Neoplasia kali ini, adalah diharapkan saudara saudari mendapat inspirasi daripada usaha yang dijalankan oleh NPO sebagai sebuah industri yang dipacu oleh sikap perikemanusiaan dan perasaan kasih sayang antara insan. WWW.MAKNA.ORG.MY | 02
携手共创未来
எத ிர்காலத்திற்கு ஒன் றினைவ�ோம்
我国的社工领域在过去的二十年里走过了 一段漫长的旅 途。全球发展迅速，而在 MAKNA的我们已竭尽所能跟上时代的步 伐。今天，我们不仅对我们的受惠人，也 对社工领域作出承诺。
நமது மலேச ிய சமுதாய ந ிறுவனம் கடந்த 20 ஆண்டுகள ில் வெகு தூரம் கடந்து வந்திருக ிறது. உலகம் ம ிக வேகமாக வளர்ச்சியடைந்திருக்கிறது. நம் MAKNAவ ில் நம்மால் முடிந்த அளவு இந்த வளர்ச்சிய ில் பங்காற்றி இருக்கிற�ோம்.
我们如今了解到，非营利组织之间需要建 立一个更有凝聚力的环境，因为无论我们 的目标是什么，团结就是力量 - 以及我国 社会工作的未来，都需要我们团结一致。
லாபமற்ற ந ிறுவனங்கள ில் வளர்ச்சிக்குற ிய தேவைகளை உணர்கிற�ோம். ஏனென்றால் நாம் ஒன்றுபட்டு உற ித ியாக இருந்தால், நாட்டிற்கான எத ிர்கால சமூதாய பண ிக்காக நம் ஒற்றுமை தேவைப்படும்.
为了信守推行此观念的承诺，MAKNA于去 年11月非常荣幸能在马来西亚吉隆坡会展 中心举办2017年NPO论坛和博览会 – 主 题为“The Uncommon Good”。
கடந்த நவம்பர் மாதம்,க�ோலாலம்பூர் மாநாட்டுமையத்தில் The Uncommon Good என்ற தலைப்பில் கலந்துறையாடல் ஒன்று நடத்த வாய்ப்பு க ிடைத்தமைக்கு MAKNA பெருமைப்படுக ிறது.
在这为期两天的活动中，我们热情接待非 营利领域的同行以及公众，其中许多人都 是非营利组织的捐助者或志愿者。此活动 旨在联合整个社工领域，并为我国的未来 展开亟需的对话。
இந்த இரண்டு நாள் நடந்த ந ிகழ்வில் பங்குபெற்றவர்களை பெருமையுடன் வரவேற்க்கிற�ோம். முக்கியமாக ந ிறுவனங்களை ஒன்றுபடுத்துவதற்கும், வருங்கால மலேச ியாவுக்கு தேவையான கலந்துறையாடல்களை ந ிகழ்த்துவதற்கும் இந்த ந ிகழ்வு நடத்தப் பட்டது.
尽管世界朝向技术进步的发展速度无法 停止，但我们的工作仍然会保持不变。 成为一名社会工作者是为了加强我们人性 化的特质 - 对那些处于条件不足的人们 付出的爱、同理心和同情心。我们能够走 在一起，为我们的国家建设更加美好的未 来，这不是人工智能和机器能够轻易取代 的事物。 今天，我们了解到我们的领域寻求更人性 化的未来，希望此主题为“The Uncommon Good”的活动会是迈向这个目标的第一 步。 在本期Neoplasia书刊中，基于非营利组 织是一个人性特质和爱驱动的非凡领域， 我希望您能从它们的贡献中获得启发。
03 | NEOPLASIA ISSUE 1/2018
த�ொழ ில் நுட்ப வளர்ச்சிய ில் உலகம் ப�ோக ிற வேகத்தை தடுத்த ந ிறுத்த முடியாவ ிட்டாலும் நம்முடைய சேவை த�ொடர்ந்து ஒரே மாத ிரியாகவே இருக்கும். சமுதாய சேவையாளரின் தன ித் தன்மையால், வசத ியற்றவர்கள்ளுக்கு அன்பையும் பாசத்தையும் காட்டுவதால் பண்புள்ள மன ிதர்களாக ிறார்கள். நம் ஒன்றுபட்ட சக்திய ினால் வருங்கால நாட்டின் வளர்ச்சியை மேம்படுத்துவத ில் எந்த இயந்திரத்தாலும் நம்மை ம ிஞ்ச முடியாது. உற்பத்தி த�ொழ ிலுக்கு அத ிகமான மன ிதவளம் தேவைப்படுக ிறது என்பதை இன்று நாம் உணர்கிற வேளைய ில் அதை அடைவதர்க்கு The Uncommon Good முதல் அடியை எடுத்துவைத்திருக்கிறது. இந்த NEOPLASIA இதழ ில் என்னுடைய வ ிருப்பம் என்ன வென்றால் நீங்கள் எல்லாம் சேவையாலும், அன்பாலும் புத்துணர்ச்சி பெற வேண்டும் என்பதே.
WWW.MAKNA.ORG.MY | 04
GOOD VI
WORLD CA
In conjunction with World Cancer Day 2018 and the “We Can. I Can” global campaign by the Union for International Cancer Control (UICC), MAKNA did its part on the global effort of raising awareness of Cancer through activities that engage the public and promote healthy lifestyles among Malaysians.
05 | NEOPLASIA ISSUE 1/2018
In line with this and the UICC’s theme, MAKNA held an Outdoor Yoga and Meditation session with May Khadri, yoga instructor from Yoga One That I Want Studios, and coach Susee Rajaram from Guardians of Mother Earth. 30 people attended the session in a calming neighbourhood park: Students from Taylor’s University, cancer survivors, Volunteers, MAKNA staff and friends,
WHAT’S NEW
IBES ONLY ON
ANCER DAY gathered at Lucky Garden in Bangsar. The three-hour session aimed to bring the community together in an environment that promotes active habits and positive lifestyle changes. During the activity, the participants had a sharing session where they talked about their experiences and their relationship with their bodies. By discussing their
cancer survival experiences, the group learnt about the importance of expressing love and care for their bodies, inside and out. They also learnt that meditation and yoga can help people to realise the importance of being self-aware and mindful about their health. Meanwhile, MAKNA International Vietnam (Hanoi) in collaboration with WWW.MAKNA.ORG.MY | 06
We can. I can
– ACTING TOGETHER TO FIGHT CANCER IN MALAYSIA 07 | NEOPLASIA ISSUE 1/2018
WHAT’S NEW
Hung Viet Oncology Hospital, hosted a bicycle roadshow on the main streets of Hanoi. The road show aimed to promote community awareness on proactive healthcare, periodic health examination, and early detection as well as spreading the message ‘early detection saves lives and reduces the cost of the treatment’. (See page 28 for more information about it)
ORIGINAL IDEA OF WORLD CANCER DAY World Cancer Day initiated by the Union for International Cancer Control (UICC), falls on 4 February each year, and is observed internationally. It aims to save millions of preventable deaths each year by raising awareness about the disease, as well as encouraging governments and individuals across the world to take action. Taking place under the tagline “We Can. I Can”, World Cancer Day 2016-2018 explores how everyone – as a collective or as individuals – can do their part to reduce the global burden of cancer. Just as cancer affects everyone in different ways, all of us have the power to take various actions to reduce the impact that cancer has on individuals, families and communities.
PASSING ON A POSITIVE VIBE In 2017, supporters of MAKNA commemorated World Cancer Day with a walk through the city centre of Kuala Lumpur, while holding signages with the theme “We Can. I Can – Acting Together to Fight Cancer in Malaysia”. The volunteers also carried with them two inspirational boards and along the way asked the public to stop and write encouraging messages for cancer patients. The response to the activity was overwhelmingly positive. Many people stopped to write messages, including runners, cyclists, families, and even those on official duty such as police officers. Initiatives planned for World Cancer Day are seen as complementing the extensive range of services MAKNA provides for cancer patients, family members, highrisk groups and the general public.
WWW.MAKNA.ORG.MY | 08
THE BEAUTY BUY that gives back to society 09 | NEOPLASIA ISSUE 1/2018
WHAT’S NEW
Buying a new skincare product can be a luxury, but cancer care shouldn’t be. Last year, The Face Shop collaborated with MAKNA to raise awareness and funds for cancer welfare under Shop To Raise campaign. THE FACE SHOP came up with the theme, The Seven Wonders of The Therapy First Serum and the first serum is not just a skincare product. A bottle of The Therapy First Serum can offer up to 7 methods of usage, as a first step serum for higher absorption in the skincare regime, as a 7 times toning, as an exfoliation, as a mask, as aroma therapy, as a face mist and finally, as a stress reliever by point massage on the face. During two-month campaign, The Face Shop managed to raise RM 99,285 from 6,619 Serum bottles sold. The collaboration was born after The Face Shop realized that cancer has been such a rampant illness, and how commonly diagnosed it is. From this fundraising campaign, they wanted to help underprivileged cancer patients and their families, so they found an ally in MAKNA to help them fulfil their wish. Besides doing fundraising and awareness, The Face Shop also became one of the main sponsors of MAKNA Founder’s Night Run (MFNR) 2017 and The Uncommon Good – NPO Forum & Fair. They sponsored 5,000 The Face Shop 7 Wonder Serum sample packs and prizes for 20 MFNR winners. THE FACE SHOP Malaysia wish to express our gratitude to all who contributed to this good cause. MAKNA is humble and grateful towards the effort and commitment by the team and the contributors involved in the campaign. WWW.MAKNA.ORG.MY | 10
A Running Legacy:
MAKNA
FOUNDER’S NIGHT RUN
2017
By Vemanna Appannah, Deputy General Manager, MAKNA 11 | NEOPLASIA ISSUE 1/2018
WHAT’S NEW
Far or near, the distance did not discourage runners from flocking from all over Malaysia to come and show their support yet again at this year’s MAKNA Founder’s Night Run (MFNR) that took place on 30 September 2017. Organised for the third time themed A Dream, A Reality, A Legacy, had 4,000 runners assembling at Precinct 3, Dataran Putrajaya covering their respective distances. Founder and President MAKNA, Dato’ Mohd Farid Ariffin, flagged off all 3 categories i.e. 21km, 12km and 5km from 8 pm onwards. The 5K fun-run had 62 cancer survivors coming from all over Malaysia. MFNR is one of MAKNA’s continuous efforts at community engagement and public service, to further the cancer cause. It aims to engage the community in sport and promote a healthy lifestyle as precautionary action against cancer.
MFNR received encouraging support from corporate participation of 10 runners in a team that allowed runners to run in any of the offered categories. Grouped in assorted run categories, the corporate team took it as teambuilding exercise by pushing personal limits with different distances. Dato’ Farid was accompanied by 62 cancer survivors during the opening ceremony. He thanked the runners, supporters, sponsors, and volunteers for stepping forward and joining hands in the fight against cancer. “Each one of you here has contributed in helping boost the morale of cancer patients and remind them that cancer is not a battle that has to be fought alone. I am overwhelmed by the generosity of Perbadanan Putrajaya for being the venue sponsor, having us all gathered at this prestigious icon.” “I had envisioned the establishment of a not-for-profit of this kind after my late son, WWW.MAKNA.ORG.MY | 12
Farul Rafiq’s own struggle with leukemia. But for MAKNA to have survived as long as it has on the goodwill and generous contributions of the public, is nothing short of inspiring. We are so grateful for the keen support of all our stakeholders, whether individuals, corporate bodies, government agencies, or the society in general,” said Dato’ Farid, after whom the run is named. He added that he was overjoyed to see so many cancer patients gain access to treatment and have their lives changed through MAKNA’s services and programs to support them over the years. The atmosphere was further brightened with the balloon giveaways by Pusat Pakaian Hari Hari, Zumba performances that got all grooving away with moves, and many interesting freebies and activities by other sponsors.
The 21km Winners!
Poo Vasanthan finished his run within 1:08:08 and Danielle Nant at 1:33:00, emerging as winners of the 21km Men Open and Women Open categories. They both walked away with medals and prizes over the value of RM5,000, including a return flight to Perth, sponsored by MAKNA’s official partner Air Asia.
13 | NEOPLASIA ISSUE 1/2018
Meanwhile for the 21km Men Veteran and Women Veteran categories, Vadiveelu Arumugam clocked at 1:21:02 and Susan Khoo at 1:48:20. They both walked away with a medal and prizes valued over RM3,000 including a return flight to Sihanoukville, Cambodia sponsored by Air Asia.
WHAT’S NEW
The Sponsors MAKNA thanks Sponsors Perbadanan Putrajaya, Air Asia Berhad, Pusat Pakaian Hari Hari, Ultron, Running Malaysia, RunSociety, Dunia Sukan, Grabmedia Sdn Bhd, VIVA Home Shopping Mall, Instant Exhibitions Sdn Bhd, iM4U, Tune Hotel DPulze Cyberjaya, Peak Fitness, Truefitt & Hill Malaysia, Perskindol, NH Nutri Grains Zǐ Gǔ Liáng, SG Global Support Services, Adonis Beauty, The Face Shop, BRAND’S Ca’ya, Tesco (Malaysia), Juice Works Malaysia, Milo Malaysia, Drive M7 Energy Drink, N8 Sports Nutrition, belVita Breakfast Biscuits, Thermos Malaysia, Dorsett Putrajaya, ODIE Fitness, St. David Balloon, Griffin Transport Management for their immense support, and the race organiser M Sports Sdn Bhd for their professional advice and overall race management. WWW.MAKNA.ORG.MY | 14
15 | NEOPLASIA ISSUE 1/2018
FRESH OFF THE LAB
TARGETING TELOMERASE
ACTIVITY IN TRIPLE NEGATIVE
breast cancer cells By Noorfaiza binti Abdul Aziz, recipient of the MAKNA Cancer Research Award 2013
Telomerase, an enzyme found in the nucleus of every mammalian including human cells, aids DNA replication during cell division. Telomerase activity is crucial for the replication of the chromosomal ends, also called telomeres. Each end of a chromosome has these repetitive, noncoding sequences.
So, what is the fuss about telomerase? To answer that question we have to remember that normal, healthy cells, have no active telomerase. Once the cells mature, the telomerase becomes dormant and, as a consequence, the telomeres shorten with each cycle of cell division (see
figure). The lack of telomerase activity in mature cells is now recognised as one of the events leading to aging and cell death.
What has that to do with cancer cells? Isn’t it good that the telomeres shorten in cancer cells? Studies found that about 90% of cancer cells and 100% of adenocarcinoma cells including breast cancer have an active telomerase. This is one of the strategies of cancer cells to avoid cell death. Additionally researchers found that the length of the telomeres corresponds to the aggressiveness of that particular cancer. That means, the shorter the telomeres, the more aggressive is the cancer. WWW.MAKNA.ORG.MY | 16
90% of cancer cells have
AN ACTIVE TELOMERASE. This is one of the strategies of cancer cells to avoid CELL DEATH. © image from https://commonfund.nih.gov/4dnucleome
17 | NEOPLASIA ISSUE 1/2018
FRESH OFF THE LAB
What about Triple Negative Breast Cancer? Does this cancer also have an active telomerase? And what is triple Negative Breast cancer? Let’s answer the last question first. Triple Negative Breast or TNBC is a breast cancer subtype that is characterised by the lack of typical drug targets found in other breast cancers. TNBC does not express estrogen receptor (ER), progesterone receptor (PR), and human epidermal growth factor receptor 2 (Her-2). This makes targeted cancer treatment difficult in this type of cancer. TNBC is a very aggressive cancer and the five year survival rate for patients with TNBC is low because when the cancer reappears, it is most likely resistant to the previous chemotherapy. Does TNBC has an active telomerase? Yes! Our group as well as other groups of scientists have measured telomerase activity in TBNC.
So TNBC has an active telomerase. How does that help with treating the cancer? Initially telomerase activity was used to distinguish between cancer and non-cancerous cells but now it has become an attractive target for the development of cancer therapeutics.
How do we target the telomerase? There are multiple ways to that: a) we can try to inhibit the enzyme’s activity and, as a consequence, there will be no more
extension of the telomeres. The telomeres become shorter and the cancer cells will undergo apoptosis. Telomerase activity in cancer cells depends on several factors like increased hTERT expression, modification of telomerase structural subunits and telomere-associated proteins. Alternatively b) we can influence the expression of any of the telomerase subunit proteins or c) any of the telomere-associated proteins.
What are telomere-associated proteins and what have they to do with telomerase activity? Telomere-associated proteins are proteins that bind specifically to the telomeres and give them a specific structure. Telomerase requires this specific structure, so that it can bind to the telomere and then replicate it.
That is very complicated. So, what did you do in your laboratory? We were looking at the effects of the combination of cisplatin, a platinum-based chemotherapeutic drug and apigenin, a natural product derived flavonoid, on telomerase activity in TNBC. Initial experiments with Tinosporacrispa (T. crispa), also called Batawali, showed that the extract from this plant works synergistically with cisplatin in killing TNBC while it protected normal, healthy breast epithelial cells. Apigenin is one of the flavonoids in T. crispa and we choose it because other researchers could show promising effects of apigenin on cancer cells including TNBC. WWW.MAKNA.ORG.MY | 18
So what did you find with your experiments? In summary, our data showed that the combination of apigenin with cisplatin has anti-proliferative properties causing apoptosis in TNBC cells. The combination worked synergistically in reducing telomerase activity. However the effectiveness of the combination treatment on telomerase activity varied between TNBC subtypes (HCC1806 cells and MDA-MB-231 cells). Overall, HCC1806 cells seem to be more sensitive towards cisplatin/apigenin treatment than MDA-MB-231 cells. We also studied some of the potential mechanism involved in the inhibition of telomerase activity. However, the specific function of each gene and protein involved in regulating telomerase activity and maintaining of telomere structure requires more in-depth studies before animal and human studies can be conducted.
Ms. Noorfaiza, recipient of the MAKNA Cancer Research Award 2013, with Dr. Siti Hamimah and Dr. Gabriele at the award presentation ceremony.
GROUP INFO The telomerase research team consisted of Assoc. Prof Dr. Gabriele Froemming, Dr. Siti Hamimah Abdul Kadir Sheik, Dr. Mohd. Johari Ibahim, and Ms. Noor Faiza Abd Aziz. Dr. Gabriele is heading the Nutritional Sciences and Natural Product Unit in the Institute of Pathology, Laboratory and Forensic Medicine (I-PPerForM) UiTM, while Dr. Siti Hamimah is the director of the Institute for Medical Molecular Biotechnology, Faculty of Medicine, UiTM. Dr. Johari has just completed his Ph.D. at Melbourne University and is now working as a lecturer in the Faculty of Medicine, UiTM. Ms. Noorfaiza just obtained her Masters in Medical Sciences working on the above project. She has just now looking for a post to continue her Ph.D. Dr. Gabriele can be contacted at gabriele@salam.uitm.edu.my, Dr. Siti Hamimah at sitih587@salam.uitm.edu.my and Noorfaiza at faiza_aziz@yahoo.com. 19 | NEOPLASIA ISSUE 1/2018
FRESH OFF THE LAB
Figure showing the importance of telomere length and telomerase activity. In normal healthy cells, no telomerase activity can be found therefore the telomeres are continuously getting shorter with each cell division. Once they become too short, the cell stops proliferating and enters a state called senescence. However, some cells can bypass senescence and continue dividing until the telomeres become critically short, also called the Hayflick limit. This causes a crisis, which then leads to controlled cell death or apoptosis. However, if the cells are able to reactivate the telomerase, they become immortal like what happens with cancer cells (Shay and Wright, 2010). Adapted from Shay, J.W., and Wright, W.E. (2006). Telomerase therapeutics for cancer: challenges and new directions. Nat Rev Drug Discovery 5, 577-584.
Microscopy picture of triple negative breast cancer cells grown in a tissue culture flask WWW.MAKNA.ORG.MY | 20
THE UNCOMMON GOOD – a dream made true By Leidys Márquez Suárez, International Division Executive, MAKNA
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ON THE COVER
For two years MAKNA had a dream. That dream was to bring the social and corporate sector of Malaysia together, to discuss the challenges faced by Non-Profits. This, along with the possibility of offering a space to network among them- with the interest of developing initiatives that would benefit the economy of the country. The NPO Forum and Fair 2017: “The Uncommon Good”, was the outcome of that long-lasting dream. Throughout the process of giving it shape, the initial idea of gathering social workers and corporate stakeholders evolved. It was said that the conversation had to integrate the public, and feature the services of said social sector. And so it was done: for two days “The Uncommon Good” opened a space to 75 Non Profit Organizations from all over Malaysia, to showcase their services, share their stories and have a direct contact with corporate sponsors and a young crowd of visitors. Under the roof of Kuala Lumpur Convention Centre, KLCC, and surrounded with a young and artistic environment, the dream came true.
On the 24th of November, KLCC Plenary Hall welcomed local and international speakers, an audience of NPO delegates, students and social workers from all places of the country. The one –day- long conversation covered topics such as Public Policies, Balanced Leadership, Good Governance, Financial Health, Benchmarking and Innovation. The talks were delivered by representatives from firms like PwC, APPCO, AirAsia, Mercy Malaysia, and MaGIC, among others. Simultaneously, at KLCC Hall 4, the first NPO Fair of this format was taking place. The 75 participating NPOs were divided in four clusters: Welfare, Education, Health and Environment. To give a colourful spin to the format of the Fair and at the same time support art
initiatives in the country; five Malaysian Street artists were invited to customize the clusters with their vision and their style of graphic art. Each NPO was assigned to a customized booth that featured their work in a creative and visually impactful way – which, as expected, was a great attraction to the young crowds visiting the exhibition. The impact of an event like this is truly unmeasurable. Building a more cohesive panorama among NonProfits, doesn’t only signify a contribution for the current economy of Malaysia, but one for the generations to come. Investing time and efforts in bridging the gap between the Corporate, Governmental, and Social Sectors will eventually result in a more comprehensive system of governance. WWW.MAKNA.ORG.MY | 22
The effect that this newly opened space will have in the following years, will likely change lives and help building a more sustainable country – where social initiatives have the protagonism they deserve. Only a couple of months after the inaugural gathering “The Uncommon Good” happened, outcomes are already seen: Children at Homes are being sponsored by partnerships created during “The Uncommon Good”, CSR initiatives between corporates and NPOs are in progress, and the follow up reunion to continue discussing ways of working together is being prepared by MAKNA – It will be a matter of time for social changes to take place, and it will likely take years from now before they do, but it’s safe to say the first step forward in this dialogue has been taken. Hopefully, for the future versions of “The Uncommon Good” some of those stories of social change will be shared, and they will be the tangible reality of something that once, was only a dream.
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The Uncommon Good took place on the 24th and 25th of November, 2017 and Kuala Lumpur Convention Centre (KLCC) was the venue where it was held.
The Uncommon Good partnered with NGOHub and IFirst to offer two workshops with contents of interest for the Social Sector Community –over 100 people attended the sessions on Sustainable Fundraising and Principles for excellence for Non-Profits.
ON THE COVER
Three meet-and-greet sessions were conducted by Thanuja Ananthan.
The two-day event was opened to public, welcoming a wide variety of crowds from university students, to parents, social workers and international guests.
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Over 150 people were involved in the logistic team for the NPO Forum and Fair The Uncommon Good.
Cloakwork, Fritilldea, Katun, Kenji Chai, and Snozze were the five prominent Malaysian street artists in charge of customizing the look and feel of the Fair of The Uncommon Good. To support their work, MAKNA in partnership with the Singaporean design agency KULT, recruited a group of 25 young and talented amateur artists for a Mentorship Programme. Through the Arts Mentorship Program, MAKNA aimed to encourage young talents in Malaysia while giving them the opportunity of working in a major artistic project, managing expectations of stakeholders and meeting deadlines – while learning from their five Art Mentors. 25 | NEOPLASIA ISSUE 1/2018
ON THE COVER
Each of the four clusters was colourcoded and each colour had a meaning on its own. Yellow for welfare (the largest cluster), green for animal rights and conservation, pink for healthcare and blue for education.
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in Vietnam By Van Nguyen, Executive, MAKNA Vietnam and Hai Nguyen, Branch Manager, MAKNA Vietnam
In response to the World Cancer Day on February 4th 2018, MAKNA Vietnam, in collaboration with Hung Viet Oncology Hospital, hosted the Bicycle Roadshow on Hanoi main streets. 27 | NEOPLASIA ISSUE 1/2018
ACROSS THE SEA
Cancer is one of the “rising” diseases in recent decades. In Vietnam, the number of new cases rises sharply from 68,000 in 2000 to 126,000 in 2010, and it is expected to surpass 189,000 cases in 2020. Every year, approximately 94,000 Vietnamese are killed by cancer. These numbers are higher than those who die of HIV/AIDS and tuberculosis. Currently, the disease’s growth has been more complicated and the age threshold of new cases has gone down. A large number of myths and misconceptions on cancer, lack of information, and unawareness on the importance of health checkups should be counted as imminent factors for late detection and low probability of treatment in the community. The idea behind the roadshow is that riding a bicycle not only benefits our health but also our environment; and it is an efficient communication channel with high viral effect and direct impact on the community. “Cancer early detection saves lives and reduces treatment cost.” Our message to everyone living and working in this city is this: early detection of cancer saves lives and reduces treatment cost. 34 representatives from newspapers and news websites as well as officers of MAKNA Vietnam and Hung Viet Oncology Hospital were registered for the event. Besides the enthusiastic participation of MAKNA volunteers, public figures were also a part of the event and a part of its success. People’s Artist Lan Huong, Merited Artist Tien Quang, Artist Tra My were with us to share and spread the message “Early detection saves lives and minimizes cancer treatment cost”. Hot red T-shirts, sunny smiles, and colorful cancer
awareness messages heated up even the coldest of winter days in Hanoi. Merited Doctor and Lined Manager of Hung Viet Oncology Hospital, Dr. Hoang Dinh Chan shared at the event, “Cancer is a serious disease but it can be treated. And the success rate of treatment will be improved if cancer is detected early. Thus cancer education is significantly important in raising public awareness on early detection and prevention.” As an Opinion Leader committed to encouraging people to protect their lives against cancer, Merited Artist Lan Huong said, “I call for people’s attention in cancer screening at special health centers. Early detection saves lives and reduces treatment cost.” “MAKNA is a member of UICC and we strongly support UICC message “We Can. I Can”. That’s why MAKNA, an international NPO in Vietnam collaborates with Hung Viet Oncology Hospital, a local private hospital to organize the roadshow and demonstrate our desire, our will; We want to show that each segment in our community can and really do share a hand in the fight against the big C,” said by MPH. Nguyen Van Hai, Branch Manager of MAKNA Vietnam. Representing MAKNA volunteers and young Vietnamese, Dinh Huy from Electric Power University was happy to be a part of a meaningful event. He promised that he and his fellows would spread cancer knowledge and the importance of cancer early detection to protect their loved ones and their community. WWW.MAKNA.ORG.MY | 28
By Nurtasya Aqilah Mustafa, Volunteer Executive, MAKNA
Cancer is a serious matter. Not only women needed to be careful but men also should. For example, while hurting yourself, your cigarette can harm us, women and everyone around you - Dr. Azura Abdullah
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VOLUNTEER
On January 13th, 2018, in conjunction with International Volunteer Day on 5th December every year, MAKNA’s volunteer leader Puan Azlina Abdullah initiates a positive program to bring volunteers together. The program initiated with the objective of spreading positivity and raising awareness on cancer among MAKNA volunteers and other attendees and it was held at National Population and Family Development Board (LPPKN) auditorium, a venue that kindly supported the event by sponsoring the space from 8 am until 4.30 pm. The meeting started with welcoming all the guests, volunteers and VIPs, and an ice breaking session. As an opening speaker, Dr. Azura bt Abdullah managed to engage the audience while talking about cervical cancer. The information provided was specifically tailored for the audience, so everyone could understand the topics without having any technical knowledge in the matter. “Cancer is a serious matter. Not only women needed to be careful but men also should. For example, while hurting yourself, your cigarette can harm us, women and everyone around you” – Dr. Azura stated. Next on the agenda was the talk by Dr. Shazril Imran on general cancer and awareness. Dr. Shazril shared his advice on the Do’s and Don’ts while handling cancer patients. Since the disease can make patients highly emotional, being surrounded by a strong support system of friends and family is imperative. “As human beings we are constantly tested in life. Cancer is also a test, but how we handle
and overcome it, it’s the most important part” – Dr. Shazril adviced. As the gathering progressed, the team understood that counting with specialists during sharing sessions is of great help for the attendees. Many of the people in the audience have gone through their own journey with Cancer, and still have many unanswered questions that they bring up during these activities. Being informed about cancer is important for the general public, but also for cancer fighters, who are often shy or afraid asking too many questions to their doctors, and suffer the disease in the dark. During the last talk of the program, by Puan Che Noriah bt Othman, cancer wellness was discussed. The session was used as a platform to teach the attendees how to relax their minds and their bodies. As part of an integral recovery from the disease, it’s important to keep a balance between physical and mental health. The lack of this balance often causes patients to suffer exhaustion both in their bodies and their minds. The finalization of the program came at around 4:30 pm, when the attendees enjoyed the session and Puan Azlina’s objective of spreading awareness and positivity about cancer was reached. WWW.MAKNA.ORG.MY | 30
INTERN VOLUN
a day to celebr
International Volunteer Day, mandated by the UN General Assembly, is an annual celebration where volunteers and organisations around the world celebrate their efforts and promote their work among their communities. This time, the volunteers of MAKNA decided to organize a meet-up and brainstorming session at Janda Baik, Pahang. The fresh air, crisp scent of grass in the monsoon season, the swishing of water in a nearby river, and the abundance of fruit trees in the vicinity of Taman Kurnia Ilahi was undoubtedly the perfect spot for the retreat.
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The day started with the rendezvous of thirteen MAKNA volunteers at KL Sentral Station where the journey to Bentong begun. After having shockingly spicy Ayam Penyet for lunch, the group arrived at the breathtaking Taman Kurnia Ilahi. After a fun-filled ice-breaking session, it was playtime at the stream. The valley was filled with laughter and screams as the 13 volunteers splashed away all their worries and rediscovered their younger selves. As dusk approached, the barbecue pit was lit. The scent of grilled corn, lamb, chicken and vegetables were very pleasant. The group
VOLUNTEER
ATIONAL NATIONAL TEER DAY
brate together
took turns grilling and playing games while enjoying music. As the barbecue pit cooled down, the 13 volunteers sat under the starry sky in the darkest of nights. This memorable moment was heartfelt as they shared their dreams, passions, hopes and challenges as volunteers. After a restful night, everybody was ready to put their brains to work to pull together what they had learned from the previous night. Many great ideas flew as everybody
enthusiastically participated in how they can volunteer together and volunteer better in the future. Right before leaving Janda Baik, the group had an impromptu fruit fest from the orchard where some of them were introduced and tried new fruits whilst the others had fun harvesting the abundant cili padi, kedondong and round eggplants. The volunteers ended their stay and session with smiles all around and lighter steps knowing that they are contributing to the process of making the world a better place.
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An e
OPEN
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HOME to Sibu, by Vemanna Appannah,
LIFE GOES ON
November 19th 2017 – The 323km journey from Hospital Sarikei, Sarawak to Hospital Umum Sarawak, takes 7 hours by bus for Randu anak Ambun. Randu. Randu who’s 46 years old, was diagnosed with Recurrent Tumour of Right Adnexa with Small Infiltration (some sort of Ovarian cancer) in early 2016. She receives financial assistance from MAKNA every month. My colleagues and I went on a Home Visit trip that is a routine on our work schedule. The patient lives in the interior of Pakan that is over 120kms from Sibu town. It took us slightly over 2 hours to reach near her house in Pakan. Getting to Pakan was easy, but getting to her house from the Pakan district was a merry go round. Addresses in the interior of Sarawak or Sabah didn’t take us straight to the house, but somewhere near the area and from there we had to ask many passersby if they knew the person in the address we were looking for.
eye
NING
E VISIT Sawarak Deputy General Manager, MAKNA
Waze & Google Maps are of no help there, as there is no steady reception in the interior. This made our communication limited and didn’t allow us to make phone calls to the patient either. While trying to locate Radan’s house, we drove in and out of small roads asking numerous people for directions. Most times, their indications would lead us somewhere and then take us back to the place where we started. Not failing with our mission, we continued asking anyone that crossed our path. In the midst of our quest, we stopped a motorcyclist who was on the same direction as us, in one of the small roads. When one of my colleagues spoke to him in Bahasa Malaysia, he pointed to a direction that was completely out of our WWW.MAKNA.ORG.MY | 34
radar. Even within our country, we still struggle with language barriers. Luckily one of the volunteers who joined us in the journey (Wilson, who also happens to be a cancer survivor) managed to strike a conversation in Iban dialect with the motorcyclist. Only then we received better response and came to know that we were actually on the correct direction. Luckily, we had someone who could speak Iban, as it was the only reason we were finally able to find the home we were looking for. During our Home Visits, we normally encounter several challenges, other than the language barrier. Addresses are often very hard to find, limited access to internet connection is usually something we have to work with, and poor phone reception is also a limitation. In very secluded areas, some roads are only accessible via 4WD. In this particular journey, fortunately our team of five people was able to complete the visit with only a Myvi car. Do you believe in Guardian Angels? Well, after that trip, we definitely do.
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We had planned to do five visits, but due to all these unpredicted encounters, we only managed to visit Radan. However, with all these challenges we faced, we console ourselves because our challenge is much more manageable compared to the patient’s and their families. Radan’s son took early retirement from armed forces to care of her full time. His devotion for his mother really touched our hearts. (And it reminded me of Miss World 2017’s winning answer, “A mother’s profession deserves the highest respect”, and how this statement won the judges’ heart. You may want to look up on Google). In this visit we witnessed a son’s respect for his mother’s sacrifice – by sacrificing his job in order to help his family. The family’s source of income comes from cultivating pepper, vegetables & rare livestock, which they have set up around their home. So now I want to say: Dear donors, The patient is able to travel 323kms for treatment because of YOU. Your help goes a very long way, thanks to the monthly assistance that MAKNA provides. From your monthly giving, the story of patients like Radan can be a little brighter.
LIFE GOES ON
WILSON
There are so many stories like Radan’s. Our volunteer Wilson, who joined us in the Home Visit is only 15 years old and has already fought a long battle with cancer. Wilson recently completed his PT3 exam and still on on-going treatment for leukemia (ALL). His father is a lorry driver, who transports fertilizers for plantations and vegetable farming and he is the youngest of five siblings. This bubbly young man from Kemuyang aspires to become lead singer of a band one day. As Radan, Wilson is also a recipient of monthly financial assistance from MAKNA, and is not the only one affected with the Big C in his family. His grandfather is currently fighting colon
cancer and receives colostomy bags aid from MAKNA Bursary Assistance. When asked how he is coping with the situation, he answered “You have to move on in life and never give up!” – Those were the actual words from a 15 year old. To me, it is a reflection of tenacity and a great example of why we should always continue fighting any challenge that may come in our lives. I am glad I took a few days from my desk job, to go in the ground and join my Volunteer Unit with Home Visit, so I can now share these experiences with you.
Thank You!
Readers, friends & donors: Their lives are little better because of your generosity. Please continue with your donations, the contribution you make with us is truly lifting people’s lives. I’m sure you would like to see Wilson live his dream as a Singer, and many other cancer patients live theirs. WWW.MAKNA.ORG.MY | 36
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