New laser treatment technique for prostate cancer to be implemented soon in Guyana

In an effort to ensure citizens are exposed to a wide and modern variety of treatment options a new laser treatment technique for prostate cancer will soon be available to members of the public.

The implementation of this new technology was unveiled on Monday during a prostate cancer webinar hosted by the Georgetown Chamber of Commerce and Industry (GCCI) in collaboration with OnCall Health. Speaking at the event, Specialist Urological Surgeon Dr Rajendra Sukhraj who highlighted how prostate removal options have expanded over the years.
“They’re different techniques previously we used to use a hot wire loop and literally scoop it out like you’re cutting cheese now we have more advance techniques that are available. Laser surgery the most popular one now. They’re two forms of laser surgery that we do for the enlarged prostate there is no cutting of the belly, but this does literally vaporize the prostate,” the doctor explained.
On this point the healthcare professional highlighted that in an effort to further bolster patient care the other laser technique will soon be available to persons in the country soon.
“There is the holmium laser enucleation as well that’s something that you will be hearing from us very shortly it will be introduced in this country within the next month or so where we actually go In same way but instead of vaporizing the prostate we literally pull it out and remove it completely almost like a coconut you drill a hole in it and you take out the jelly,” he said.
Laser surgery can offer several advantages over other methods of treating BPH. It can take several weeks to months to see noticeable improvement with medications. Improvements in urinary symptoms from laser surgery are noticeable right away. The advantages over traditional surgery, such as transurethral resection of the prostate (TURP) and open prostatectomy, can include lower risk of bleeding and faster recovery time among others.
Additionally, the healthcare professional called for increased advocacy when it comes to prostate cancer.

“We have been doing some work traditionally in this country we have not been talking about prostate cancer, we have not been doing screening, we do not yet have a national prostate cancer screening guideline. Over the past couple of years, we have been advocating for more awareness about prostate cancer and for more effort to be put into it,” he stated.
Meanwhile also present at the event was director of OnCall Health Dr. Dason McKenzie, during his presentation the doctor highlighted that men particularly, older males have a high risk of developing prostate cancer. On this point he further stressed the importance of men conducting screening exercise to detect prostate cancer.
“Today we’re focusing on an important topic prostate cancer and this is prostate cancer awareness month. Now prostate cancer is one of the most common cancers affecting men particularly as they age and early detection is crucial in preventing this form of cancer” he stated.
As such he highlighted that in an effort to combat prostate cancer the Guyana Cancer Society (GCS) has embarked on an initiative that will see over 500 men being screened for the disease.
“This month the Guyana Cancer Society has embarked on a campaign to provide prostate cancer screening for 1000 men and they’re doing this by using the PSA test” the director stated.
The Prostate-specific antigen or PSA test is a blood test used primarily to screen for prostate cancer. The test measures the amount of prostate-specific antigen (PSA) in your blood. PSA is a protein produced by both cancerous and noncancerous tissue in the prostate, a small gland that sits below the bladder in males.