‘PNG can beat cancer’

PAPUA New Guineans can beat cancer and move forward through awareness and early detection.
That was the message from University of Papua New Guinea’s school of medicine and health sciences pathologist Dr Jacob Morewaya at the Women Doctors Association (WDA) corporate breakfast at the Crowne Plaza hotel last Friday.
The corporate breakfast was a major fundraiser for the WDA in its efforts to raise much awareness on cervical cancer. Working class women from more than 20 corporate houses turned up to support the WDA.
Morewaya was the guest speaker at the event in which he pointed out the truths and hard facts about how cervical cancer was killing Papua New Guinean women.
He was described by WDA executives as the gentleman with a heart for women in the sense that he is the very doctor that screens pep smear tests at the Port Moresby General Hospital for diagnosis.
“The thing that hurts me is that when I see a young school girl smoking. Not many people know that smoking is one of the risk factors of cervical cancer,” he said.
He began his presentation with stories of how he had to break the news to women whose tests proved positive for cervical cancer and expressed sadness at that.
Referring to the number of cancer cases from 2000-04, one third of the total reported cases were cervical cancer followed by breast cancer, adding that the trend had continued over the years.
“Cervical cancer is the biggest cancer affecting women in our country.
“When you look at the ages, breast and cervical cancer are developing at the same time, however, a lot of women in their early 20s are developing cervical cancer while women between 30 and 50 years are developing breast cancer,” he said.
Morewaya said a pep smear test was must for all women in their early 20s after every two years and then they could have their breasts screened when they reach their mid-30s.
“I can assure you that cervical cancer is rising in the country but is prevalent overseas.
“We must recognise that the womb is a very important part of the body and one structure of the body that we must look after,” he stated.
He pointed out the ABCs that he would like to see be practised to prevent cervical cancer and that included: 
* Awareness –  be given out by medical professionals and others who are well informed
* Behaviour – behaviour starts with individuals and the government’s behaviour towards addressing this health issue also affected the people and the medical care given; and 
* Choices – for medical professionals to make a choice and stand up for cancer.