Experts for establishment of tumor registry to detect cancer

KARACHI - Pakistan is in dire need to develop a "Tumor Registry," to ensure early detection of malignancies and protect lives of vulnerable pertaining to varied age groups.  Chief guests were Mr. Basheer Dawood, Ms. Zubeida Mustafa, Vice Admiral Khalid Mir, Prof. Ali Mohammad Ansari and Prof. Sadiqa Jaffery.

Prof. Adibul Hasan Rizvi, Director SIUT welcomed the guests. On this occasion a scientific symposium was held in which Dr Shahid Hameed discussed about treatment of cancer. Dr Asad Abbasi of SIUT presented his experience of external beam radiation therapy. Dr. Altaf Hashmi in his presentation "Uro-Oncology: the disease burden" at the inaugural symposium and hands on workshop on Brachytherapy organised by Sindh Institute of Urology and Transplantation here on Sunday urged for proper record keeping at all health care facilities.

Reiterating the fact that early diagnosis makes the treatment of cancers easier, he said absence of base line has largely turned large majority of cancer cases un-noticed with little possibility of treatment.

The estimated figures and available hospitals based data, with their respective limitations, were said to identify only six percent prevalence of prostate cancer and 10% to 15% cervical cancer. Dr. Altaf urged for dedicated clinics for specific diseases with provision for newer medical technology which were established to be largely beneficial for the patients concerned.

With specific reference to prostate and cervical cancers, he said Brachytherapy and Devencirobotic laproscopic proctectomy were the interventions that have their advantages in reducing the suffering of the patients. SIUT Director and pioneer of organ transplantation in public sector facilities, Prof. Adibul Hasan Rizvi said 80% to 85% of the people in Pakistan were disenfranchised from the benefits of medical sciences due to lack of funds.