| SIUT starts new treatment for prostate, cervix cancers |
| Monday, 09 June 2008 | |
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The Sindh Institute of Urology and Transplantation (SIUT) has started “Brachytherapy services” for the treatment of patients suffering from cancer of the prostate gland, cervix, etc. At the inauguration ceremony on Sunday at the Hanifa Suleman Dawood Oncology Centre, SIUT chief Dr Adibul Hasan Rizvi said that cancer was a menace and it was no longer a problem of developed Western world. It was, however, a big problem in South Asia. There was no exact data of prostate cancer patients in the country but hospitals-based evidence revealed that it was growing, he said, adding that last year around 145 new prostate cancer patients were brought at the Oncology Department of SIUT. According to him, prostate cancer ratio was around three per cent few years ago but now it has increased up to six per cent. Similarly, cervix cancer ratio has increased up to 10-15pc, which is very common among women after breast cancer. He said that around 50pc beds at the SIUT were occupied by women suffering from cervix, who used to come to treatment when the complications had already increased. Talking about its causes, Dr Rizvi said that prostate cancer may be genetic. Apart from it, it could be a result of smoking and infections. But its chances increases after 45 years of age. He suggested that people of over 60 years age must get themselves tested as early diagnose of any cancer was necessary for its proper treatment. He said multiparty was the main cause of cervix cancer because every birth of child was accompanied with a trauma for mother. He said deliveries tended to take place at unhygienic conditions lead to infections. Besides, lack of proper diet also causes cancer among women, he added. Dr Rizvi regretted that cancer treatment was “incomplete” at public sector hospitals in the country as it was restricted to surgery only. “But treatment also includes radiation therapy and chemotherapy. Our conscience is pricking us that surgery is not complete treatment of cancer,” he said. He, however, added that modern treatment of cancer at private hospitals was beyond the reach of the poor people. After one or two years, the patients tend to come for treatment again and start blaming their fate. He mentioned that Suleman Dawood family provided equipment worth Rs700 million and they started cancer treatment through radiotherapy, which was later followed by chemotherapy whose treatment at private hospitals cost from Rs90,000 to Rs9 million. “After the introduction of radiotherapy and chemotherapy at the SIUT, we are now introducing ‘organ-specific treatment’ and for this purpose Brachytherapy Unit has been set up with the help of Dr. Sarah Jafri’s family who donated over Rs 30 million for purchasing equipment. Brachytherapy pinpoints prostate and cervix cancers and targets them specifically,” Dr Rizvi said. Two doctors from SIUT Dr Altaf Hashmi and Dr Gohar Sultan have received training from Germany for Brachytherapy, while German expert Dr Prof. Razvan Galalae has been providing further training to the SIUT team for the last one week, he added. According to Dr Rizvi, SIUT is the first public sector institute which has introduced Brachytherapy for the treatment of prostate and cervix cancers, whose treatment at private hospital costs over one lakh rupees on average. Brachy is a Greek word, which literally means “short period”. Brachytherapy not only treats cancer in a short time but it also does not leave side effects. Prof. Razvan Galalae discussed in detail the results of Brachytherapy. |
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