The Georgetown Public Hospital Corporation (GPHC) says that a total of 340 cancer patient were admitted to the hospital’s oncology department between the periods 2016 – 2020. For the same period there were 42 deaths associated with the disease, this is according to data provided to Stabroek News by GPHC’s Public Relations Department.
According to the data provided, the admissions by year are as follows – 2016 – 89 admissions and 9 deaths; 2017 – 93 admissions (9 deaths); 2018 – 58 admissions (9 deaths); 2019 – 67 admissions (7 deaths) and 2020 – 33 admissions (8 deaths). Dr. Marissa Dazzle, an oncologist attached at the hospital’s oncology department, said that the data does not reflect persons who are currently being treated with the different treatments offered at the hospital, nor does it reflect recoveries. She has however noted that since the mid 2000’s the hospital has evolved in its service to ensure that patients are getting treated.
Treatment of cancers
Dr. Dazzle provided a breakdown of cancers that are common in Guyana, which are breast cancer, cervical cancer, prostate cancer and colon cancer. She explained that there are four stages associated with the disease of which the fourth stage is the hardest to treat; according to Dr. Dazzle, when the disease reaches that stage, the body becomes very weak, and that makes recovery harder especially since some treatments, like chemotherapy, are strong medicines from which the body might not be able to recover from.
According to Dazzle, the fourth stage is often when the cancer cells have metastasized from the point of first detection and have spread across the body. To avoid this stage, she said that early diagnosis is recommended because once detected, treatment can start sooner. At the GPHC, treatment options vary between surgical and chemotherapy. She said that while radiotherapy is an option for cancer patients, this form of treatment is not offered at the hospital. However, other treatments, for example, surgical and chemotherapy can be obtained free of cost at the Public Hospital.
Chemotherapy, says Dr. Dazzle, can be used for all types of cancers; for prostate cancer, hormone therapy is offered prior to treatment with chemotherapy.
Dr. Dazzle recommended that persons do regular checkups for cancer detection and other underlying conditions. She said that persons don’t look for signs and symptoms, because maybe they think that because their relatives did not have it (they are safe), or simply think they are healthy and fine. She, however, advises that persons should be more observant of their bodies and do regular checkups when necessary. “It’s good for persons to be observant and be aware of their bodies and the changes when occurring. Notice when something is going wrong,” the oncologist told this newspaper and “Keep going and check,” she further emphasised.
Cancer detection
She said that for women and teenage girls, a simple breast check for lumps is a good start. Mammograms, she said are great ways for women to know whether they might have cancer cells. She said that if a lump, which might not have been in the breast before suddenly appears, it could be an indicator that cancer cell (s) is growing in the breast. She highlighted that one of the reasons that women can sometimes miss the signs is because they do not do routine checks. “You may feel well, just going about your business, but just a bump in the breast is a sign of cancer,” she said.
For men, possible signs of prostate cancer are signs of blood in the urine or difficulty while urinating. For colon cancer the signs and symptoms are diarrhoea or constipation more frequent than normal. Dr. Dazzle advises that persons who find themselves with any symptom that they get checked and if it doesn’t get treated by medication recommended by one referral, continue to seek other referrals and opinions. She said that persons need to continue seeking different opinions if they are not satisfied with the first, or second, or third. “Not being satisfied if you’re not well, get some treatment still not well? Go again. Seek opinions,” Dr. Dazzle stated.
She further said that she usually advise persons to “remember that cancer numbers are increasing every year worldwide and in Guyana, [so] if there is not family history of illness still do a yearly medical checkup.” Dr. Dazzle also advised that healthy diets and avoid smoking and alcohol helps to lower the risk of other chronic diseases as well.
Mother of a cancer survivor speaks
Stabroek News also spoke with Celeste Belgrave, the mother of cancer survivor, Mekyla Belgrave, who said that her daughter was born with cancer cells in her eye. She said that at first the doctors could not diagnose what was the child’s condition, however, when she was seven months old, the family took the infant to Dr. George Norton who recommended a Computed Tomography (CT or CAT) be done. The family agreed and then it was revealed that the child had bilateral retinoblastomas, a cancerous tumour in the retina.
Belgrave said the eye would appear as if there was glass over the retina, a sign that the tumor was growing. After the diagnosis, they joined the GPHC cancer clinic to await the surgery. The surgery was done in Trinidad and both of Mekyla’s eyes were removed. Though she has been visually impaired since, Mekyla has had no signs of cancer cells in her eyes and the mother declared that her daughter will be 16 years cancer free in March 2021.
Celeste Belgrave advises parents to do whatever it takes to ensure their children can live healthy lives and added that even if it is required that an organ is removed. She said trust in doctors and God is the way, further, she is thankful that she was able to ensure that her daughter would be able to live a cancer free life. Belgrave added that even though her daughter is visually impaired, she continues to make the family proud with her studies. She said that her daughter graduated at the top of her class for the National Grade Six Assessment and is currently enrolled at the North Georgetown Secondary School.
