GPHC sees increasing numbers of late stage cancer of the tongue - Consultant

GPHC sees increasing numbers of late stage cancer of the tongue – Consultant

Oct 17, 2017 News

An increasing number of patients have been turning up at the Oncology Unit of the Georgetown Public Hospital Corporation [GPHC], with cancer of the tongue. This is according to Consultant and Head of the Oncology Unit, Dr. Justo Despaigne Delisle, who revealed that such cases are increasingly being referred by Dentists.
The cases are more than likely not only presenting at the GPHC. According to Dr. Delisle since there is currently no up-to-date study to determine the number of cases, quantifying the cases is not readily possible. He, however, maintained that “There are a lot of patients with tongue cancer.”
But these cases are presenting at a very late stage, Dr. Delisle said.
In light of this daunting situation, he noted, “We are working in different parts of Guyana to share information about cancer.” He is optimistic that within the next three years, persons inflicted with cancer will seek attention at an earlier stage. He echoed the assertion of many health officials that “earlier detection can help save lives.”
While cancer of the tongue has been linked to smoking, Dr. Delisle revealed that the use of spicy items such as pepper could be a contributing factor. Pepper could even cause stomach cancer too.
“I know the people of Guyana like to use pepper and sometimes, too much is not good…you can use it but when you use a lot of it can be a problem,” said Dr. Delisle, who revealed that there have been a number of young individuals presenting with these conditions.
The state of cancer in Guyana, Dr. Delisle said, continues to be very worrying with as many as 20 new cases presenting at a single clinic session. But according to Dr Delisle, breast cancer continues to be a major concern.
This is in light of his observation that about half of the patients who present with cancer are those inflicted with breast cancer. “Sometimes 10 or 12 patients have breast cancer, maybe about six with cancer of the cervix and some colon cancer and others,” said Dr. Delisle.
The impact of both breast and cervix are very troubling, he said. “They both kill a lot of women,” said Dr. Delisle, who pointed out that while there are treatment that can effectively combat these cancers, the best measure to deal with cancer of the cervix is surgery. Breast cancer, on the other hand, could be adequately tackled with chemotherapy and radiation although surgery may at times be warranted.
Currently, GPHC is able to offer treatment such as chemotherapy to cancer patients at no cost to them. However, when radiation is required patients have to seek this service at the Cancer Institute of Guyana. “The Cancer Institute and the Public Hospital [GPHC] work together but the patients need to pay around 50 percent (of the cost),” related Dr. Delisle.
Paying has however proven to be a challenge for some patients since they do not have the financial wherewithal to do so. But according to Dr. Delisle, there are some patients who have been able to benefit from financial support from the Public Health Ministry.
He considered that since the Ministry can only do so much, thus some patients may not always be able to access support.

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