October is internationally celebrated as Breast Cancer Awareness Month or Pinktober.
For this Pinktober, Novartis Malaysia has partnered with patient communities and healthcare experts to launch a coffee table book titled “Living Well, Living Longer” on Oct 2, 2025 at BookXcess, The Gardens Mall, Kuala Lumpur.
The book brings together stories and perspectives from patients, caregivers, healthcare professionals and advocates to inspire confidence, resilience and hope for those navigating breast cancer and showcases the shared efforts to shape a more compassionate, inclusive and connected breast cancer community in Malaysia.
Complementing the book, Novartis also spotlighted the ICanCare App, a digital platform developed by Novartis, designed to offer emotional and practical support.
The app features the contributions of various patient advocacy groups. The app provides patients and caregivers with access to emotional guidance, treatment information and counseling services.
Speaking at the launch, Novartis Malaysia, Brunei and Asia Emerging Markets (AEM) country president Sanjeev Balachandran said, “At the heart of our mission is a steadfast commitment to improving and extending the lives of Malaysians. Through our partnerships, we have engaged more than 2,000 patients and caregivers in the past three years but many more still need support.
“With the Living Well, Living Longer coffee table book and ICanCare App, we’re advancing holistic breast cancer care by expanding awareness and providing access to emotional guidance, localized disease information and resources – so every patient affected by breast cancer has support at her fingertips to help her live well and live longer.”
A key feature of the ICanCare App is its psychosocial counseling options, provided by the National Cancer Society of Malaysia (NCSM).
Kol Bersekutu (PA) Prof Dr Murallitharan Munisamy, managing director of NCSM, said in a statement that emotional support can be just as vital as medical treatment in shaping a patient’s recovery.
“Empowerment begins with empathy – listening, understanding and walking alongside patients. Tools like this book and the ICanCare App are bridges that connect patients to knowledge, support and hope,” he said.
Apart from the benefits for patients and caregivers, sustainable solutions also need to address the challenges faced by healthcare professionals.
Dr. Mastura Md Yusof, consultant clinical oncologist, Hospital Picaso and technical advisor for Breast Cancer Welfare Association (BCWA) said, “We continue to see many breast cancer patients in Malaysia presenting with late-stage breast cancer due to a lack of awareness, limited access to early detection, and the challenges for patients to navigate the complex health care system.”
She lamented that it was very difficult for oncologists to support patients beyond diagnosis and therapy due to limited time and resource constraints.
“Platforms for shared experiences like Living Well, Living Longer and reliable sources of information such as the ICanCare App are therefore increasingly important.”
