Tanzania Academy of Sciences (TAAS) Chairperson Prof Esther Mwaikambo
She was speaking in Dar es Salaam yesterday when commemorating
World Cancer Day at Kairuki Memorial Hospital organized by the Tanzania
Health and Medical Foundation (TAHMEF).
Prof Mwaikambo said nowadays most people took serious concern when
it came to prostate cancer, cervical cancer and breast cancer diagnosis,
with doctors trying their best to cure such patients.
“We have records that show the detection of three types of cancer
in a number of patients. Cancer is the most disturbing and fatal disease
if not treated at its earliest stage,” she said.
She said unexplainable swellings were the foremost indicators of
cancer disease, and such could only be detected during diagnosis at
hospitals.
According to her, early cancer diagnosis helped doctors to best
cure the disease, thus enabling patients to live their normal lives.
The United Kingdom (UK) Cancer Research recently unveiled cancer
death rate data compiled from cancer registries in England, Wales,
Scotland and Northern Ireland indicating 284 cancer deaths out of every
100,000 people in 2013 compared to 312 deaths in 2003.
For her part, Juliana Busasi, a founder of TAHMEF, said the
population was growing “and more of us are living longer thanks to the
new science and technology that is helping in detecting cancer at its
earliest without a problem.
"Our scientists are trying hard to develop new tests, surgical and
radiotherapy techniques, and drugs that will be able to help detect and
cure these cancer patients," she said.
She went on that TAHMEF had decided to mark World Cancer Day so
that people could be more aware of the fact that cancer could be treated
and guaranteeing of life if it was detected and treated much earlier.
Meanwhile, the Aga Khan Hospital in Dar es Salaam has allocated
Sh1.6bn each year to support cancer patients to undergo free cancer
screening and surgery at the facility with the aim of containing the
disease by increasing diagnostic camps.
Edina Mullumba from Aga Khan Hospital told the seminar while
commemorating the World Cancer Day that brought together health experts
and cancer survivors to discuss ways of reducing the spread of the
disease.
She said that as part of commemorating the day, the facility has
raised the money from various sources of revenue as well as funds from
donors who volunteered to support the initiative.
"Under the tagline, 'We can. I can,' World Cancer Day is
commemorated on February 4 each year to explore how everyone - as a
collective or as individual - can do their part to reduce the global
burden of cancer," she said.
She said World Cancer Day is a chance to reflect on what people can
do, make a pledge and take action. Whatever they choose to do 'We can. I
can'make a difference to the fight against cancer.
"Just as cancer affects everyone in different ways, so all the
people have the power to take various actions to reduce the impact that
cancer has on individuals, families and communities," she said.
A cancer specialist at Ocean Road Cancer Institute (ORCI), Dr
Khamza Maunda, reiterated the importance of regular health check-ups for
good health.
"Most Tanzanians wait too long before they check their health and do so when it is either too late," he said.
He said the move by the Aga Khan Hospital came at a time when
records showed that 44, 000 new patients were diagnosed with cancer each
year in the country, most of whom did not have access to curative
services.
In the seminar organized by the Aga Khan Cancer Supporting Group,
Sophia Moshi, a cancer survivor, said that patients who have been going
through similar experiences could explain things differently from
healthcare providers.
"If you have cancer, or you are taking care of someone who does,
you are facing challenges that may leave you feeling overwhelmed,
frightened and alone. You may also want to share approaches you've
discovered helpful to you will gain strength in knowing that you are not
facing hardships alone," she said.
A nutritionist at the Aga Khan Hospital, Asina Yusuph, advised
cancer patients to eat the right kinds of food which could help them to
feel better and stay stronger after treatment.
"Nutrition is an important part of cancer treatment due to the fact
that both illness and its handling could affect the body’s ability to
tolerate certain foods and nutrients," she said.
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