Advocacy Programs
We are always here for you when you need us
Our Patient Advocacy Program is designed to empower cancer patients, especially the poor, to get access to the healthcare, information and treatment that they deserve in a dignified, comfortable and caring manner to help ease the pain that they are suffering. We understand that cancer patients are faced with many fears and worries, and it may be difficult to differentiate the facts from the myths during such turbulent times. Not everyone has the means to afford the necessary life-saving cancer treatments which can be very costly and beyond the reach of the less fortunate.
With a compelling mission to save lives, prevent cancer and serve the poor who are afflicted with cancer in Malaysia, EMPOWERED – The Cancer Advocacy Society of Malaysia (Persatuan Advokasi Kanser Malaysia) was founded by Dr. Christina Ng, a Consultant Medical Oncologist, in 2009. EMPOWERED is a non-profit organisation registered as a society, and has been granted tax-exempt status by the Inland Revenue Board (IRB) of Malaysia.
Upon the much dreaded diagnosis of cancer, patients and their families go through very emotionally distressing times. It may be a time of confusion for patients and their caregivers, trying to come to terms with the diagnosis and trying to make sense of the whole situation in the midst of intimidating medical terms, conflicting advice from well-meaning folks, and having to make very difficult medical decisions based on very little understanding of what is happening, which may mean the difference between life and death for the patient.
Hence, EMPOWERED was formed to step in with a passionate professional team to bridge the gap and actively address the cancer disease from awareness to screening to treatment; and to help cancer patients, especially the poor, to gain timely access to the life-saving medical treatments and counselling, and to assure them that cancer is not necessarily a death sentence.
Onco Life Centre Wins 2025 Best Oncology Clinic in Malaysia
We are proud to share that Onco Life Centre has been named one of the top Oncology Clinics and Treatment Centres of the Year in Malaysia at the GlobalHealth Asia-Pacific Awards 2025, held in Bangkok.
This prestigious recognition is a testament to our unwavering commitment to delivering personalized, compassionate, and cutting-edge cancer care to our patients. The award reflects not just our clinical excellence, but our dedication to safety, community outreach, and innovation in oncology services.
The GlobalHealth Asia-Pacific Awards celebrate leading healthcare institutions across the region. Winners are chosen based on a comprehensive evaluation of criteria such as:
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Excellence and Innovation: Transforming healthcare delivery and patient outcomes through progressive medical practices.
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Patient Safety: Upholding the highest standards to ensure safe, comfortable, and effective treatment environments.
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Community Involvement: Actively engaging in public awareness, screening programs, and care for underprivileged communities.
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Technology Adoption: Integrating advanced diagnostics, therapies, and digital tools to enhance every aspect of care.
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Impact and Measurable Results: Demonstrating tangible improvements in cancer detection, treatment success, and patient well-being.
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Adaptability and Preparedness: Being resilient and forward-thinking in the face of global health challenges.
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Leadership and Vision: Cultivating a culture that prioritizes empathy, innovation, and ongoing education.
This award inspires us to continue raising the bar in oncology care—not only through medical advancements but by remaining deeply rooted in our advocacy mission: to serve, educate, and empower every cancer patient, especially those most in need.
We dedicate this achievement to our patients, survivors, caregivers, and the entire Onco Life Centre community. Your courage fuels our purpose. Together, we will continue the fight—because every life matters.
Hello, I’m Dr. Christina Ng Van Tze, a Consultant Medical Oncologist and Medical Director at Onco Life Centre, as well as the Founder President of Empowered The Cancer Advocacy Society of Malaysia. Throughout my career, I have been passionate about advancing personalized cancer treatment, strengthening community advocacy, and expanding access to high-quality care for patients across Malaysia.
Attending the ESMO Congress 2025 in Berlin was both inspiring and energizing. Representing Onco Life Centre, our dedicated medical centre in Malaysia, I stood among global leaders committed to shaping the future of oncology. This year’s congress was filled with remarkable scientific breakthroughs, thoughtful discussions, and a renewed sense of purpose as we work toward better outcomes and better lives for our patients.
A Global Gathering Focused on Precision Cancer Care
ESMO 2025 brought together thousands of clinicians, researchers, and advocates from around the world. What made this year particularly exciting was the strong emphasis on precision medicine, from cancer genetics and molecular profiling to advanced imaging and AI-powered diagnostic tools. These advancements are aligning closely with the work we do at Onco Life Centre, where patient individuality and tumor biology guide our treatment decisions.
Throughout the congress, many experts highlighted the importance of understanding each patient’s tumor in greater depth. Whether through genomic sequencing, circulating tumor DNA, or radiomic analyses, the oncology community is moving firmly toward personalized strategies. As someone who has long championed individualized care, I found these sessions especially meaningful.
Key Scientific Sessions That Inspired Me
One of the standout presentations was the evERA BC trial, a major study evaluating the combination of giredestrant, an oral SERD, with an mTOR inhibitor drug in hormone receptor-positive breast cancer. The results showed a significant improvement in progression-free survival, especially in tumors driven by ESR1 mutations. For patients who have progressed on CDK4/6 inhibitors, this combination may become an essential addition to our treatment toolbox.
This study also supports a larger movement within oncology—creating thoughtful, layered treatment plans that address resistance pathways and extend the time patients can remain on endocrine-based therapies. It’s a direction that can profoundly benefit Malaysian women, many of whom are diagnosed at younger ages or have aggressive tumor profiles.
Insights from the thoracic oncology sessions were equally impactful. Advances in lung cancer, including AI-driven pathology models, updated ALK-targeted treatment strategies, and ctDNA-guided therapy adjustments, reminded me just how quickly this field is evolving. Given the increasing prevalence of lung cancer in Malaysia, especially among non-smokers and women, these developments hold tremendous value for our community.
The Role of AI in Transforming Clinical Practice
One major theme across the congress was the integration of artificial intelligence into clinical decision-making. Researchers demonstrated how AI models can analyze pathology slides, radiology images, and genomic data to predict which patients are more likely to respond to immunotherapy or targeted treatment. These tools help us avoid ineffective therapies and guide patients toward options with the most tremendous potential.
At Onco Life Centre, we have been exploring the use of digital technologies to streamline assessments and enhance patient monitoring. Seeing the global oncology community embrace these tools assures me that we are moving in the right direction. I hope that AI will continue to improve early detection, refine treatment selection, and ultimately support better survival outcomes for Malaysian patients.
Representing Onco Life Centre on the International Stage
Representing Onco Life Centre at an event of this scale was a true honor. Our centre has always focused on delivering holistic, science-driven care, and it was wonderful to share our experiences with colleagues from around the world. I had meaningful conversations about challenges related to access to molecular testing globally, variability in treatment availability, and the need for stronger psycho-oncology support systems.
These interactions not only validated the work we do but also highlighted areas where we can continue to grow. Bringing international insights back to Malaysia ensures that our patients benefit from the same cutting-edge thinking shaping care in Europe, America, and beyond.
Bringing ESMO Insights Home to Malaysia
Returning from Berlin, I feel a renewed commitment to integrating the latest research into our daily practice. In the coming months, we aim to:
- Enhance our use of molecular profiling for breast, lung, and gastrointestinal cancers
- Expand ctDNA testing where appropriate to guide treatment decisions
- Strengthen multidisciplinary discussions for complex cases
- Continue investing in supportive care and psycho-oncology services
- Provide patients and families with clearer, more personalized education about treatment choices
As a clinician, I believe that every advancement, no matter how technical, must ultimately translate into compassionate, human-centered care. This balance of science and empathy remains at the core of our mission.
A Future of Hope and Collaboration
ESMO 2025 reaffirmed what I’ve always believed: oncology is advancing rapidly, but meaningful progress relies on collaboration, continuous learning, and a deep commitment to patient care. I’m genuinely grateful for the opportunity to represent Onco Life Centre on this global platform. Being part of these critical conversations strengthens our mission to raise the standard of oncology in Malaysia. It ensures our patients benefit from the latest, most effective innovations in cancer care.
Moving forward, we will continue engaging with global partners, conducting meaningful advocacy through Empowered, and ensuring our patients receive the highest standard of personalized treatment.
Together, we can build a future where every individual facing cancer feels seen, supported, and empowered.
NSCLC (Non-small cell lung cancer)
2010 Breast and Lung Cancer Awareness Campaign (LEMBAH PANTAI)
2011 Colorectal Cancer Screening and Treatment Community Project (GOMBAK AND SELAYANG)
2011 & 2012 Colorectal Cancer Awareness, Screening and Treatment Community Project (SETAPAK)
2012 Colorectal Cancer Screening and Treatment Community Project (LEMBAH SUBANG)
2014 Colorectal Cancer Awareness, Screening and Treatment Community Project (CHERAS)
2015 Colorectal Cancer Awareness, Screening and Treatment Project (HILIRAN AMPANG)
2016 Colorectal Cancer Awareness, Screening and Treatment Project (DESA TUN RAZAK)
Early detection is our first defence in cancer
The first defence against cancer is early detection through regular screening. Studies have shown that the most common cancer affecting men is colorectal cancer, and it is the second most common cancer affecting women in Malaysia. Regular screening and early detection is crucial for the patients successful recovery. In April 2010, EMPOWERED colorectal cancer screening programs won the approval of the Medical Research Ethics Committee from the Ministry of Health.
Meanwhile, lung cancer is ranked as one of the top 5 causes of cancer in both men and women, and it has the highest mortality rate in the world. While there remains no cure for lung cancer, early diagnosis and treatment gives the patient a higher chance for survival. In our fight against cancer, our community activities have been focused on regular screening for the under-privileged. Through fundings from private sectors, corporations and the general public, we have successfully achieved significant milestones in reaching out to the mass under-resourced communities through cohesive collaboration with government sectors, hospitals and clinics.
Since our inception in 2009, we have accomplished the following community projects:
NSCLC (Non-small cell lung cancer)
2010 Breast and Lung Cancer Awareness Campaign (LEMBAH PANTAI)
2011 Colorectal Cancer Screening and Treatment Community Project (GOMBAK AND SELAYANG)
2011 & 2012 Colorectal Cancer Awareness, Screening and Treatment Community Project (SETAPAK)
2012 Colorectal Cancer Screening and Treatment Community Project (LEMBAH SUBANG)
2014 Colorectal Cancer Awareness, Screening and Treatment Community Project (CHERAS)
2015 Colorectal Cancer Awareness, Screening and Treatment Project (HILIRAN AMPANG)
2016 Colorectal Cancer Awareness, Screening and Treatment Project (DESA TUN RAZAK)
Going the extra mile for you
We journey the extra mile with the patients and their families, including providing transportation to hospitals, medical centres or clinics, as well as giving personalised support to each individual patient, as the circumstances of each patient is unique. The effects of cancer can be devastating, not just physically but also extremely emotionally draining. We accompany the patients throughout their treatments and recovery process as their friend and companion to counsel, comfort and cheer them up, as some of them may be driven to the brink of despair by the circumstances.
As their bodies undergo medical treatments, we seek to soothe their souls by sharing with them effective coping strategies and exercises. In times like these, EMPOWERED offer them hope towards holistic healing and recovery.
Because living is fighting. All of us need heroes
Our cancer survivors are our heroes who have fought and won the battle against cancer. We work with them to share their testimonies to inspire those undergoing cancer treatments, to encourage them not to give up hope, but to keep on fighting the good fight. Hope is crucial to the spirit and the healing process.
You are at the heart of whatever we do
As everyone is different, we tailor and deliver personalised services that specially cater to the patients unique needs. We focus on being relevant in our community projects to reach out to the under-privileged communities and encourage increasing participation in our cancer awareness and screening workshops. We work closely together with hospitals, medical clinics, and the cancer patients to ensure patient compliance to the necessary medical treatments in order to beat the disease.
Handing back ownership of your health through My Journal
At some point, many cancer patients go through feeling a loss of control over their health. By taking up the simple responsibility to organise and file their own medical records and adhere to their doctors appointments, patients will start to feel a glimmer of hope and regain some semblence of control over their own lives.
The brainchild of Dr. Christina Ng, My Journal, was written from her heart, featuring information on the cancer disease, medical treatments, the side-effects, impact on the lives of the patients and caregivers, as well as worksheets in a filofax that enables patients to organise their treatment diary, doctors appointments and list of prescribed medication, and to systematically file their medical examination reports all in one place. My Journal was launched in February 2011 by the Deputy Health Minister, Datuk Rosnah Rashid Shirlin.
Available now in 4 languages, the second edition of My Journal has been distributed for free to thousands of cancer patients in government hospitals with cancer care units through My Journal Book Campaign with the objective of giving a sense of ownership of their health back to the patients, besides helping them to organise their treatments and medication records.
Service Area
Cancer Centre, location
