Cancer survivor to host radio show
Veteran entertainer and cancer survivor Lisa Wang Ming-chuen has signed on to host a radio programme that aims to educate listeners on various forms of the disease, the top killer in Hong Kong.
Wang will host 18 weekly episodes of Adviser - Health Corner on RTHK Radio One starting next Monday.
Singer Francis Yip Lai-yee and legislator Chan Yuen-han, both cancer survivors, are expected to be guests on the first programme. A physician will answer questions from listeners.
'I believe through my own experience, my popularity and reports in the media we can spread the knowledge of cancer prevention to more people,' Wang, 56, said. 'I hope after everyone listens to the programme they can be healthier and live more happily.'
Wang is a two-time cancer survivor. Her first encounter with the disease was in 1985, when she was diagnosed with thyroid cancer. She recovered after surgery and radiotherapy. Then last year, a tumour was found in her breast. Wang was able to defeat the disease again as it was discovered early.
She said she would share more of her experiences on the programme, which will be in Cantonese. Wang is a member of the Hong Kong Anti-Cancer Society's executive committee.
Cancer is the number one cause of death in Hong Kong, responsible for about a third of all deaths. The number of cases has risen more than 50 per cent in the past two decades, to 21,000 cases in 2000.
'In the next 10 years, this trend will definitely continue unless we make drastic changes to our lifestyles,' said William Foo, oncologist and Hong Kong Anti-Cancer Society spokesman.
The reason for the jump was an ageing and growing population and its change to a more western lifestyle, Dr Foo said. Some western traits that caused cancer were eating more meat, butter and dairy products while consuming less vegetables and fruits, he said.
The most common type of cancer among women is breast cancer, followed by lung and colon cancers. For men, lung cancer is the most common, followed by liver and colon cancers.
