The Georgetown Public Hospital Corporation (GPHC) in collaboration with the Ministry of Public Health, on Sunday launched its month of activities to commemorate Breast Cancer Awareness Month.
In observance of this month of activities, the Cancer Institute of Guyana is aiming
Chief Executive Officer of the GPHC, George Lewis (left), and PAHO/WHO Representative Dr William Adu-Krow (third left) among officials at Sunday’s launch of Breast Cancer Awareness Month
to offer to patients free cancer screening in the form of mammograms and ultrasounds all month.
Dr Sayad Ghazi of the Cancer Institute of Guyana said that every year the Institute diagnoses a number of women with breast cancer, and has a long list of survivors when compared to those who have lost their lives.
“Every day, 24/7, we are fighting this fight of not only breast cancer, but every cancer…Cancer Institute is doing free mammograms and ultrasounds for this month, and provided we get enough sponsors, we are working to achieve this goal,” Dr Ghazi said.
Additionally, Chief Executive Officer of the GPHC, George Lewis, said the Oncology Department would be getting a new mammography machine, which would be installed in their section of the newly constructed building. He said that
Doctors and staffers from the Oncology Department
the new building is expected to be completed by the end of October or early November, so that they can begin operating with improved facilities to deliver better quality service.
Meanwhile, Dr Galisa D’Aguiar of the Oncology Department said they have seen a decline in the number of cancer cases diagnosed over the past year. She explained that, in 2015, the department saw 125 new cases, and that began to drop in 2016 when they saw 86 new cases; and for the year 2017, they have seen
The building that would house the Oncology Department is currently nearing completion
65 new cases thus far.
She further stated that the decline might be as a result of persons not getting screened.
Pan American Health Organization/World Health Organization (PAHO/WHO) Representative Dr. William Adu Krow said his organisation remains committed to assisting the Government in the fight against the deadly disease. He noted that they are using the data gathered from the 2015 National Assessment of Cancer to formulate the Cancer Action Plan for Guyana.
Additionally, he stated that they will be assisting the Health Ministry to implement the Action Plan, once it has been completed.
According to the American Cancer Society, there are many types of breast cancer, with the most common types being ductal carcinoma in situ, invasive ductal carcinoma, and invasive lobular carcinoma. The type of breast cancer is determined by the specific cells in the breast that are affected. Most breast cancers are carcinomas. Carcinomas are tumors that start in the epithelial cells that line organs and tissues throughout the body.
This year, Breast Cancer Awareness Month is being observed under the theme ‘I HAVE HOPE.’
