The original article can be found in: Kaieteur News By Jenelle Willabus
When one thinks or hears of cancer, more often than not that person automatically considers his/her or any other individual’s life becoming a living nightmare, or soon coming to an end. But this is not always the case, however, as once the disease is detected early and with the right treatment, there is that chance of a person with cancer surviving and moving forward with a normal existence.
In this country there is a facility that provides screening, treatment and support for persons with the disease. This facility, located in the compound of the Georgetown Public Hospital Corporation, is the Cancer Institute of Guyana, which, although it has not been around for such a long time, is the only of its kind here, and for the past six years has been contributing significantly to the health sector.
The Cancer Institute came into existence via a collaborative effort between the Government of Guyana – through the Ministry of Health – and the Private Sector, in the form of Global Imaging Services Incorporated. The facility was established in 2006, however Global Imaging Services (GIS) Inc. has been in operation locally since 2003, but dealt primarily with computerised tomography (CT) scans and Magnetic resonance imaging (MRI), and was also the only institution at the time providing services in diagnosing and treating cancer.
The then Minister of Health, Dr. Leslie Ramsammy saw the urgent need for cancer detection and treatment and approached officials from GIS Inc., with the aim of providing critical cancer treatment to Guyanese at a reduced cost. Hence the emergence of the Cancer Institute , the doors of which were opened to all Guyanese on June 6, 2006, as it began offering Oncology consultations, mammography, pap smears, chest x-rays, chemotherapy, external beam radiation therapy, intra-cavitary radiation therapy, CT scans and bone density scans.
Chief Executive of Global Imaging Services/Cancer Institute of Guyana., George Nella, explained that over the years the facility, through its staff, has been doing the best it can to combat the dreaded disease. Not only has there been diagnosis and treatment of Guyanese, but it has been found that persons from neighbouring countries have been taking advantage of the services offered. Nella said when he and his team were approached by Dr. Ramsammy with the idea of establishing the facility he (Nella) conceded that it would have been a good venture, since at the time there was no such facility in Guyana.
“Initially GIS Inc, was only about MRIs and CT scans, but back in the United States cancer diagnosis and treatment was our specialty, so we decided that yes, we can bring those services to Guyanese at a reduced cost through the collaboration with the Health Ministry.”
Once all the necessary components for the establishment of the facility were put in place, a building was readily made available. The Institute immediately began making treatment available as promised, at a reduced cost, to patients who came through the Ministry of Health.
Services are provided by a staff headed by a Radiation Oncologist, Dr. Narendra Bhalla, General Physicians, Oncology Nurses and Radiation Therapy Technicians.
Since its establishment, records show that the Cancer Institute has diagnosed numerous patients and has treated over 960 for Radiation Therapy. Of that total, 63 persons were treated with Intra-Cavitary Radiation Therapy. This is the type of treatment used for persons with cervical cancer.
It has been found that this form of the disease is the most common type diagnosed and treated at the Institute – followed by breast, lung, spine and on a lower level, skin cancer.
Cervical Cancer is a disease which attacks a woman’s cervix. The cervix is the lower, narrow end of the uterus. Cervical cancer affects most women over 30 years old. But like most types of cancer, once detected early and with the right type of treatment, there is a high chance of survival and a good quality of life.
The Cancer Institute provides screening for this type of cancer and others, and given that this is the cancer that is most prevalent, it is advised that women have pap smears done at least once a year.
One major issue the Institute is faced with is late detection.
“We have found that in many cases, by the time a patient gets to us they are in the third or fourth stage of their cancer, and there is very little we can do,” Mr. Nella stated.
To continue reading this article please visit the original article in: Kaieteur News
