Only four hospitals for K-P’s cancer patients

Dr Safoora Shahid says not enough funds, equipment to research treatment.

PESHAWAR:

Only four hospitals exist in Khyber-Pakhtunkhwa (K-P) to cater to thousands of cancer patients from K-P and neighbouring Afghanistan. 

With 40,000 cases of cancer reported from the province last year, K-P will join the rest of the world today (Tuesday) in creating awareness among its populace about cancer.



“Several public and private hospitals in the province will arrange a number of activities to mark the day and to promote ways to improve the quality of life for cancer patients,” said Dr Safoora Shahid, oncologist and general secretary of the Patients Welfare Society of Institute of Radiotherapy and Nuclear Medicines (IRNUM) Peshawar. World Cancer Day is marked globally on February 4 and this year’s theme is ‘Debunk the myth.’

Shahid told The Express Tribune on Monday that IRNUM, one of the four hospitals treating cancer patients in K-P, was established by Zulfiqar Ali Bhutto in 1975 as a 75-bed hospital and with the capacity to provide treatment to 1,000 patients.

“However, the incidence rate of cancer seems to be multiplying at an alarming rate and the number of cancer patients registered with IRNUM at the moment has surpassed 6,000; one third of these are patients from Afghanistan,” said Dr Shahid.

The oncologist explained out of the many types of cancers, breast and lung cancer are the most fatal, and Pakistan lacks modern methods and funds to conduct research on the prevention and treatment of the disease.

“The government needs to provide equipment, funds and treatment facilities to ensure a timely and adequate course of action for cancer patients in K-P,” remarked Dr Shahid.

The big C

According to Dr Shahid, cancer is the uncontrolled growth and spread of cells which form malignant tumours. “Cancer can affect almost any part of the body and the growth can often invade surrounding tissues of the affected area. They can also metastasise i.e. form in distant parts of the body away from the primary growth site.”



The oncologist explained many cancers can be prevented by avoiding exposure to common risk factors such as tobacco, while a significant proportion of cancers can be cured with surgery, radiotherapy and chemotherapy, especially if the growth is detected early.

“Early diagnosis is particularly important in treating skin, breast, cervix, mouth, larynx, colon and rectum cancer,” said the oncologist.

The early signs of cancer include lumps, sores that fail to heal, persistent indigestion, abnormal bleeding and chronic voice hoarseness, she explained.

According to the World Health Organization, cancer is a leading cause of death around the world and an estimated 84 million people would have died from the disease between 2005 and 2015. Lung, stomach, liver, colon and breast cancer are major contributors to the overall cancer mortality rate every year, with 1.4 million, 866,000, 653,000, 677,000 and 548,000 deaths per year, respectively.

K-P’s cancer fighting hospitals

Along with IRNUM, the oncology unit of Hayatabad Medical Complex in Peshawar, the Institute of Nuclear Medicine, Oncology and Radiotherapy in Peshawar, and the oncology unit at Ayub Medical Complex in Abbottabad cater to the province’s and some of Afghanistan’s cancer patients, said IRNUM Director Dr Muhammad Rauf Khattak.

According to Dr Khattak, K-P recorded 38,285 cancer cases in 2012 while the number reached 40,000 in 2013.

“Moreover, in the last 10 years the number of oral cancer patients in K-P has increased by 10% due to widespread consumption of tobacco and other carcinogenic items,” said Dr Khattak.

He added a majority of people who suffer from cancer cannot afford the costly treatment and depend on Zakat funds. This is why the government and relief organisations should make more funds available to make treatment an option for them, said Dr Khattak.

Published in The Express Tribune, February 4^th, 2014.