By Sharmain GraingerAlthough health sectors across the world have been constantly advising that early detection could helpDr. Latoya Goodingto save the lives of cancer patients, it has been failure to adhere to this that continues to lend to the prevalence of many cancers.This notion was recently amplified by the Medical Officer attached to the Georgetown Public Hospital Corporation (GPHC)’s Oncology Unit, Dr . Latoya Gooding. Dr. Gooding has been in the Unit since May of last year and she is convinced that far too many people are turning up there with advanced stages of cancer.She intimated that the majority of cases continue to be that of breast cancer. Breast cancer has in fact been deemed the leading type of cancer that manifests in Guyana. This is based on a cancer profile which was conducted by Dr. Morris Edwards for the Ministry of Public Health. The profile was released last year and remains applicable, according to Dr. Gooding.Last year there were 125 reported cases of breast cancer. But according to Dr. Gooding, while most victims of breast cancer are women, men are not immune from this condition. Of the reported cases at least four were men, she related.Another fact about cancer that Dr. Gooding emphasised recently is that although a person could be cured of the disease, this does not mean that it cannot reoccur, and even in a different part of the body.For this year already there have been 92 breast cancer cases reported and, according to Dr. Gooding, several of these were recurring cases and thus have been classified as new cases.“The recurring set of cases is about 40 and the others are fresh cases,” the Medical Officer related.The second leading cause of cancer that Guyana has seen, Dr. Gooding related, is that of cervical cancer. But there are other cancers that are recorded in smaller numbers. These include: ovarian, Non-Hodgkin Lymphoma, leukaemia, colon and oral cavity cancers.Over 100 patients are currently accessing chemotherapy free of cost at the GPHC. Radiotherapy is offered at the Guyana Cancer Institute at a subsidised cost.The Chemotherapy section within the Oncology Unit.But according to Dr. Gooding, there is a desperate need for more awareness about cancer. For instance, she noted, the number of cancer cases in all its forms could be even more, but many people,
Cheap NFL Jerseys China, both men and women, do not avail themselves for medical check-ups to help detect early signs or symptoms that could be related to the disease.Dr. Gooding said that although the Oncology Unit has been conducting a number of outreaches which have been helping to encourage more women to get screened for cancer, men continue to be the defaulting gender.She is particularly worried about this development, and recalled that “we visited Kuru Kururu on the Soesdyke-Linden Highway to conduct an outreach and just two men came…we had to plead with the women to go back and bring them out. We had to plead with a pastor in the community too, to help us to reach out to the men…about 20 males came after all of that effort.”Although men are reluctant to have breast cancer tests done, Dr. Gooding said that they have also been avoiding the most effective type of prostate test done. While a blood test can be done, Dr. Gooding disclosed that a digital rectal examination usually proves to be more effective.A digital rectal examination, also referred to as DRE, is a screening test for both men and women. It allows a doctor to check the lower rectum, pelvis and lower belly for cancer and other health problems including prostate cancer in men and rectal cancer or cancer in the lower colon of men and women.But many persons, especially men,
Wholesale NFL Jerseys China, are often reluctant to do this examination since it entails a doctor inserting a gloved, lubricated finger into the rectum.A number of persons have been availing themselves this month for cancer screening. However, Dr. Gooding observed that this is mostly due to the fact that breast cancer awareness month is being observed this month. “A number of people are coming forward to be screened and it might continue into next month, but by December nobody will be coming to get screened,” the Medical Officer lamented.She is, however, of the firm view that persons should in fact subject themselves for screening at least twice yearly. “Every year the emphasis is always placed on cancer in the month of October, but this should not be limited to a month or two,” Dr. Gooding stressed.In light of her desire to see cancer become a year-round topic, whereby deliberate efforts are made to raise awareness, Dr. Gooding decided to introduce a Non-Governmental Organisation (NGO) – The Giving Hope Foundation – of her own. “Because of what I have been seeing,
Jerseys NFL Wholesale, I decided to start this foundation,”