CENTRAL MEDICAL BOARD
EBRAHIM HAJI CHARITABLE HEALTH CENTRE
EHCHC/PR/2014/01
Press Release
RE: CANCER AWERENESS AT THE K.S.I.J IMAMBARGHA
On 23rd February 2014 CMB organized a health talk on Cancer screening and its importance with a renowned cancer specialist Dr. Amyn Alidina which was indeed comprehensive, and the following points were highlighted in order to avoid facing difficult sickness and financial burden on our families in the form of CANCER
1. Prostate cancers screening is advocated from 40-45 yrs of adult population.
2. Colon cancer and Stomach cancer should be screened from 50 yrs of age.
3. Most common cancer in females is breast and cervical cancer. In case of breast cancer, it can be screened by mammography for patients who identify lumps, breast pain and nipple discharge or retracted nipple. Cervical cancer can be prevented by getting the vaccine for 10-26 yrs old in our community.
4. Smoking is one of the major risk factor for almost all types of cancers including Prostate, Lung, Stomach.
5. Eating “pariki” is for sure a risk factor for buccal mucosa cancer, besides smoking.
6. Some cancers are rare like Sarcoma, which even if treated have tendency to reappear after some time, i.e. cancer of bones and soft tissue.
CMB would like to invite our community members to come forward for screening tests which will soon be available at the new Ebrahim Haji Hospital which will include blood tests as follows:
1. PSA-Prostate-Specific Antigen test for follow up of Prostate cancer, already confirmed by ultrasound and prostate biopsy.
2. CEA-Carcinoembryogenic antigen for follow up of colon cancer and others as below:
- CEA levels may also be raised in gastric carcinoma, pancreatic carcinoma, lung carcinoma, breast carcinoma, and medullary thyroid carcinoma, as well as some non-neoplastic conditions like ulcerative colitis, pancreatitis, cirrhosis, COPD, Crohn’s disease, hypothyroidism as well as in smokers
3. CA 125-special test for follow up and identify ovarian cancer and breast cancer.
4. Ca 19.9-specific test for pancreatic cancer follow up.
5. Pap smear and Gynecological checkup soon at Ebrahim Haji Hospital.
6. The CMB is working out with some hospitals to get the community members the best price and quality service for other tests and examinations which will not be available at EHCHC such as endoscopy and colonoscopy to identify stomach, duodenal and colonic malignancy.
COME ONE, COME ALL AND UTILISE THIS OPPORTUNITY TO THE MAXIMUM AS THE SAYING GOES, “PREVENTION IS BETTER THAN CURE…..”