K200,000 raised to fight cancer

THE number of patients and cancer cases being treated at the National Cancer Treatment Centre (NCTC) in Lae, Morobe, is increasing steadily, its registrar said.
Dr Manna Ario said based on actual presentations at the radiotherapy and oncology outpatient and the two inpatient wards, a total of 448 different oncology cases were presented to the NCTC between January and June this year.
“The average turnover rate of patients seen in the NCTC included a monthly average of 37 cases, with a weekly average of nine. More than half of these cases were women.”
The leading types of cancer that were presented were head and neck, cervical cancer and breast cancer.
He said the highest number of patients were from Morobe, followed by Eastern Highlands, Western Highlands, Chimbu, East Sepik, Madang, Enga, Southern Highlands, East New Britain and NCD/Central, all with double digits.
Ario was speaking during the presentation ceremony of the Oil Search Daffodil Day corporate golf challenge in Lae on Aug 24.
The PNG Cancer Relief Society uses the annual charity golf event to raise funds in support of the NCTC.
This year’s event raised K200,000. It included a K10,000 donation from Morobe Governor Kelly Naru.
Esco Ltd also donated a K15,000 vaccine refrigerator to the NCTC.
The NCTC caters for patients from all over PNG.
Angau hospital chief executive officer Dr Polapoi Chalau said the fight against cancer was everyone’s fight.
“Those of us who have had the unfortunate experience of watching our loved ones dying because of lack of medication or equipment will understand and appreciate what such fund raising activities mean in the fight against cancer.”
The Cancer Relief Society said the funds raised from the event will go towards accommodation for rotating oncologists, purchasing drugs and instruments that may not be available at the NCTC, assisting patients and their families with repatriation home, and provision of food for patients.
Funds raised from last year’s inaugural golf day were used to purchase renal stents, fibre optic scopes, a brachytherapy machine and radiation sources and installation of a water tank among other things.