GTT lends support to cancer patients

In observance of World Cancer Day 2020, the Guyana Telephone and Telegraph Company (GTT) on Tuesday assisted patients with computerised tomography (CT) scanning, external radiation therapy and other services related to their treatment.
World Cancer Day is observed annually on February 4, in raising awareness of cancer while urging detection and prevention. It is spearheaded by the Union for International Cancer Control to support the goals of the World Cancer Declaration.
Recognising that treatment is expensive, Pinktober Coordinator Diana Gittens explained that this is their way of giving back. While seven individuals were present, the telephone giant said it will expand this initiative to benefit more people. Through the Pinktober Initiative last October, funds were raised to support such ventures. This time around, these persons would have received some $3 million in treatment grants.
“On this day, we’d like to show our solidarity…so we have decided to provide some support for patients…As a company, we know how challenging it is to access cancer treatment. The cheapest CT scan starts at $30,000, to access radiation therapy, the total cost can be $800,000, and many of our people cannot afford it,” Gittens related.
She urged survivors to share their stories with the public as a way of paying it forward, since many are motivated to continue treatment. Amid the gathering was four-time cancer survivor, Anna De Morias who battled with breast cancer twice since 2008.
“As cancer patients, we need the support,” De Morias shared.
According to the National Cancer Institute, the most common cancers are breast cancer, lung and bronchus cancer, prostate cancer, colon and rectum cancer, melanoma of the skin, bladder cancer, non-Hodgkin lymphoma and the list extends to other types.
Data gathered from research from 2011 to 2015 showed that the number of new cases is 439.2 per 100,000 men and women per year.
The disease is also among the leading causes of death worldwide. In 2012, there were 14.1 million new cases and 8.2 million cancer-related deaths worldwide.
“Fifty-seven per cent of new cancer cases in 2012 occurred in less developed regions of the world that include Central America and parts of Africa and Asia; 65 per cent of cancer deaths also occurred in these regions. The number of new cancer cases per year is expected to rise to 23.6 million by 2030.”