World Cancer Day: Disease on rise, treatment facilities still not enough, say experts

Pakistan has the highest rate of mouth cancer in the world.


Our Correspondent February 04, 2012

KARACHI: Cancer is the third most common cause of deaths in Pakistan, but the expertise and facilities required to combat the disease are still lacking.

This was shared by the Aga Khan University Hospital (AKUH) head of chest diseases department, Dr Javaid Khan, in a press release for the World Cancer Day on February 4, themed ‘together it is possible’. The university will hold a day-long seminar today, to create awareness about the prevalent types of cancers in the country and the precautionary measures for its prevention.

Khan said that a mammography for breast cancer is the foremost requirement among efforts for improving cancer treatments. Breast cancer makes up one-third of all cancers in women, with one in nine women at the risk of developing the disease. The Karachi Institute of Radiotherapy and Nuclear Medicine (KIRAN Hospital), AKUH and the Jinnah Postgraduate Medical Centre (JPMC) are the only places in Karachi which conduct mammogramme scans. Khan said that the scans should also be made available in villages and towns for a wider outreach.

The excessive consumption of tobacco and betel nut among residents from the lower socio-economic class in Karachi, has led to a high risk of acquiring head and neck cancers.

They affect the inside of the nose, sinuses, lips, mouth, salivary glands and throat or the voice box. Pakistan has the highest rate of mouth cancer in the world and the government needs a strategy to control the spread of tobacco related substances, such as pan, gutka, paan-masala, supari and naswaar, said AKUH consultant surgeon ENT, Dr Shabbir Akhtar.

AKUH consultant general surgeon, Dr Rizwan Khan, linked the rise of liver cancer directly to the increase in cases of hepatitis B and C, as well as alcohol consumption, diabetes and obesity. The only proven options for treating liver cancer are surgically removing the diseased part of the liver or liver transplantation, he said.

According to Dr Saqib Ansari, a hematologist and child specialist at the National Institute of Blood Diseases, Pakistan lacks diagnostic and treatment facilities for Acute Leukemia (Blood Cancer), which is a major contributor to the mortality rate of children all over the world. The treatment facilities are only available in hospitals of Karachi, Lahore and Islamabad.

He added that the centres, which are offering diagnostic and management facilities for pediatric blood cancers, have comprehensive set-ups but at a high cost.

The total expenditure involved in the treatment is around $6,000 in Pakistan, which is an exorbitant amount for the majority of the population.

Published in The Express Tribune, February 4th, 2012.

 

COMMENTS

Replying to X

Comments are moderated and generally will be posted if they are on-topic and not abusive.

For more information, please see our Comments FAQ