The sad thing about cancer

I READ the letter by J.Sibi, of Lae, with sadness that patients who have cancer apart from chemotherapy and surgery have no hope of radiotherapy.
As radiotherapy is part and parcel of successful treatment of most cancers, it is sad that the Government has not included that in their famous free healthcare policy.
It is a shame that families who have relatives suffering from cancer have to shoulder the responsibility to raise funds to seek treatment overseas.
With the weakening kina, it does not help at all.
Why have we got to this level of healthcare after 43 years of independence? Like the famous statement, “Life begins at 40”, but is that true for PNG? It seems that we have not been weaned yet. I would also like to point out that most countries are using linear accelerator for the treatment of cancers so why we are still using the Cobalt 60 teletherapy treatment? Or should I say stuck with Cobalt 60.

Dr Magea Pole, PMGH