06 Feb 2013

The establishment of the Cancer Treatment Centre at the Nyangabgwe Referral Hospital has so far helped to detect and diagnose cancer symptoms on 140 patients.               

The hospital consultant surgeon, Dr Celeste Mbangtang said in an interview that since its opening, about 70 per cent of the patients had been assisted on the early stages, unlike in the past where 90 per cent of their patients came to the hospital for treatment when the cancer was at an advanced stage.  

Dr Mbangtang noted that before the establishment of the centre, most of their patients sought medical attention at the late stage of the disease, which made it difficult for them to treat and cure the patients.

The consultant surgeon said despite the success brought by the centre to control the death rate of cancer disease, they were still faced with challenges of management, diagnosing and rehabilitation because cancer was not only about the surgical part but also needed biological treatment.

He said family members of the cancer patients had to be prepared psychologically to receive and care for such a patient, particularly those at an advanced stage.

Last year, he said, Palliative Care unit was launched to help patients and family members to accept the situation while also giving love and care to their patients.

The unit is operated by health care personnel, spiritual healers and there is also a focal person who on a monthly basis makes follow -ups on patients being cared for at home. ENDS