Early detection necessary: Doc
By LULU MARK
BREAST cancer was not detected early at the Port Moresby General Hospital (PMGH) over the last 10 years due to lack of mammograms, a doctor says.
Mammogram is an X-ray that detects early signs of breast cancer.
Hospital chief executive officer Dr Paki Molumi said this year as part of the Pinktober breast cancer awareness programme, friends of PMGH initiated fundraising to purchase a mammogram machine.
“We would require about K1.3 million to purchase the mammogram and set it up at PMGH,” he said.
“The old one that we had 10 years ago was a donated one, so after using it for a certain time, it ceased to function.
“When it stopped working, the hospital was not providing the service.”
“Most women come in the late stages because we are not able to detect breast cancer early.
“We hope to raise the funds to purchase the machine so that women can go through the screening programme if they think they have lumps or are experiencing signs and symptoms of breast cancer.
“Any women above 30 should go through the screening programme so we can detect breast cancer early.
“The earlier you diagnose, the better the outcome,” Dr Molumi said.
PMGH consultant and head of department of clinical oncology Dr Shanmuga Priya Baskaran said knowing how your breasts normally looked and felt was important.
“The most common symptoms of breast cancer is a lump or mass that may be painless or hard with irregular edges which sometimes may be tender and painful.”
Other possible symptoms of breast cancer include:
- SWELLING of all or part of a breast;
- SKIN dimpling – like an orange peel;
- BREAST or nipple pain;
- NIPPLE retraction – turning inward;
- NIPPLE or breast skin that is red, dry, flaking or thickened;
- NIPPLE discharge – other than breast milk; and,
SWOLLEN lymph nodes – breast cancer can spread to lymph nodes under the arm or around the collar bone and cause a lump or swelling there, even before the original tumor in the breast is large enough to be felt.
It is essential to have breast check-up by health professionals.
7 comments
Compare the cost of human lives lost vs the cost of a mammogram …I think a women that dies from breast cancer leaves behind plenty of heartaches, and untended family members both young and old, both considered vulnerable to missing out on tender loving care.
ALL MAJOR HOSPITALS SHOULD HAVE ONE FUNCTIONING MAMMOGRAM!!
This is to do with the health of this nation (PNG) the government you are to take full ownership and purchase this this vital tool with immediate effect rather than wasting time looking for donations or raising of funds etc and etc…
Honestly, the government can spend great amount of money to build roads and bridges and buildings which can be destroyed and washed away and can be replaced over night.
But with a life it’s hard to replace why not the good government of today should bring in those machines for all the girls and mothers to be saved today then be sorry.
Broken economy, do not expect luxuries.
Limited money must be spent on services to benefit the wider community.
We can not save everyone but we can target the illnesses suffered by most such as malaria, TB, pneumonia to save a lot more lives with limited money,
Cost/risk vs benefit
K1.3 million, can it be contributed by the MPs from the NCD through the DSIP allocations or not? There is so much money spend on yoga program, yet POM Gen is requiring such equipment to serve and save Papua New Guineans from this deadly disease.
Can our Government do something about it? They emphasize strongly on taking PNG back, but when? When basic needs and wants of our Citizens are identified and met accordingly then we are on the right direction to take back PNG
The mammogram that was used over the past ten 10years was a donated one, and it’s does not even cost a billion kina to replace a new one within these time where it ceased working. Why making it too hefty. Peoples’ health is of paramount importance. Government needs to take prompt action.
Comments are closed.