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Stabroek News

Lengthy delay for cancer treatment
published: Thursday | September 28, 2006

Dr. Trevor McCartney, Senior Medical Officer at the Kingston Public Hospital (KPH), has expressed concerns with the long waiting period that patients with breast cancer have to endure for radiation therapy.

Radiation therapy is a common form of cancer therapy used to kill or damage cancer cells.

Currently radiation therapy in the public sector is offered at the KPH and Cornwall Regional Hospital, St. James.

Dr. McCartney said patients sometimes are required to wait between nine months and a year for an appointment.

To this end, he noted that the hospitals have been trying to double their capacity for radiation treatment to "allow for breast conservation". Each year there are about 46 new breast cancer cases per 100,000.

The KPH currently treats 60 cancer patients per day while the Cornwall Regional treats 15 per day.

"We need to move forward to offer radiation therapy more and more to a wider cross-section of cancer sufferers," said Dr. McCartney, during the launch of Breast Cancer Awareness Month, held at the Terra Nova Hotel, St. Andrew.

He added: "We want people to feel well ... we need to have more access to radiation therapy in Jamaica,".

Meanwhile, the senior medical officer told the gathering that it was difficult to find persons in Jamaica who are trained in Therapeutic Radiography. Part of the reason he said, was that many of them migrate after training.

To this end, he noted that he and his colleagues were looking to offer a course in therapeutic radiography to ensure that there are more human resources available to offer more services to patients.

Dr. McCartney said breast reconstruction is available to patients who have lost their breasts but this is not covered under the insurance scheme.

He noted that his office was in the process of pressing insurance companies to include breast reconstruction under their insurance scheme "to allow patients to feel better" about themselves.

Breast Cancer Awareness month will be observed during the month of October under the theme, 'Every Woman Counts-Mother, Daughter, Sisters, Friends ... The Circle of Caring Never Ends'.

Hyacinth Franklin, chairperson of Jamaica Reach to Recovery said breast cancer awareness is important as early detection saves lives.

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