Building on Malaysia’s commitment to lung health, MSD and the Lung Cancer Network Malaysia (LCNM), a multidisciplinary network of lung cancer specialists and professionals, has launched the country’s first comprehensive Lung Cancer Immunotherapy (IO) Treatment Diary. The IO Treatment Diary is designed to help lung cancer patients understand their diagnosis, learn about their treatment options and take an active role in their care journey.
The launch represents a direct response to World Health Organisation (WHO) resolution on “Promoting and Prioritising an Integrated Lung Health Approach[1]” championed by Malaysia in May 2025. The resolution commits member states to strengthen actions to prevent, diagnose and treat lung diseases, including lung cancer. ‘Your Lung Cancer IO Treatment Diary’ provides practical support to help achieve these goals at the patient level.
“Malaysia’s WHO resolution signals serious commitment to improving lung health outcomes,” said Dr Abdullahi Sheriff, Managing Director of MSD Singapore, Malaysia and Brunei. “At MSD, we recognise our role in supporting that vision. By working closely with LCNM, we’ve developed a handbook that directly enables lung cancer patients to enhance their patient journey in receiving cancer treatment with IO. This partnership shows how aligned action delivers real patient impact.”
Lung cancer is the second most common cancer in Malaysian men, with an incidence rate of 13.2 per 100,000. It is also the fourth most common cancer among women, with an incidence rate of 5.9 per 100,000. Nearly 95% of lung cancer cases are detected at advanced stages (III or IV)[2].
“This IO Treatment Diary helps to complete the continuum of lung cancer care”, said Dr Tho Lye Mun, Clinical Oncologist and President of Lung Cancer Network Malaysia. “It puts patients in control, helping them become active partners in their care rather than passive recipients. When patients understand their treatment journey and can communicate effectively with their healthcare team, the outcome can relatively improve”.
Many patients begin treatment without sufficient time to fully understand their diagnosis or what their treatment journey involves. This knowledge gap can affect how patients engage with their healthcare team and manage their treatment. Research shows that patients who understand their treatment and can effectively communicate with their healthcare providers are more likely to maintain treatment continuity[3].
“Any type of cancer diagnosis can be overwhelming and confusing for patients,” said Kol Bersekutu (PA) Prof Dr Murallitharan Munisamy, Managing Director of National Cancer Society Malaysia. “Many patients struggle to understand what is happening to them and what their treatment journey will look like. This IO Treatment Diary not only educates them about their condition and treatment options but also enhances their patient journey by empowering them to be champions of their own health and work alongside their doctors. It motivates them because they are now educated and informed. NCSM welcomes this effort and is ready to support it by distributing the diary to patients within our network”.
Immunotherapy (IO) is one of the treatment options for many lung cancer patients. The IO Treatment Diary provides patients with educational resources and practical tools to understand how this treatment works, what to expect during their journey, and how to communicate effectively with their medical team.
Developed Through Collaboration Between Lung Cancer Specialists from Lung Cancer Network Malaysia (LCNM), and MSD, the diary was developed through a collaboration between a multidisciplinary team of Malaysian lung cancer specialists from LCNM and MSD to create a resource that addresses real patient needs.
The diary includes:
- Weekly symptom tracking pages with visual indicators for affected body systems
- Educational content explaining how cancer treatment works in plain language
- Side effect recognition guides showing warning signs for different organs
- Space for questions to prepare for doctor appointments
- Contact information pages for medical teams
- Progress rating system to track overall well-being
“We’ve taken complex medical information and translated it into something practical that patients can actually use,” said Dr Tho. “Every page serves a purpose. Whether it’s helping a patient to understand their treatment or giving them confidence to ask questions at their next appointment”.
The diary is designed to support patients not just during hospital visits, but throughout their daily lives. By providing a tool patients can reference at home, the IO Treatment Diary extends the care conversation beyond clinic or hospital visits and helps patients stay connected to their treatment goals between appointments.
“Healthcare doesn’t stop when the patient leaves the clinic,” said Dr Sheriff. “This IO Treatment Diary bridges that gap, giving patients a handbook they can use at home, helping them to feel more confident and in control during a very difficult time.”
Your Lung Cancer IO Treatment Diary will be distributed free of charge to lung cancer patients at participating hospitals and clinics nationwide. Healthcare professionals can request copies for their patients through LCNM. The digital version can be accessed here.
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[1] https://www.kln.gov.my/web/che_geneva/news-from-mission/-/blogs/malaysia-s-participation-in-the-78th-world-health-assembly
[2] https://www.e-mjm.org/2023/v78n6/screening-for-cung-cancer.pdf
[3] https://pmc.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/articles/PMC3146868/?utm_source=chatgpt.com
