Consultant Oncologist: Cancer Screening, Treatment Must Go Digital

Kuni Tyessi in Abuja

For the screening and treatment of cancer, modern apparatus such as cell phones must be used, bearing in mind that in a digitised era, treatment of such diseases should be approached with modern tools.

This was revealed by a consultant oncologist, Dr. Yinka Olaniyan in Abuja during the opening ceremony of the 2017 third cancer summit with the theme ‘Funding Cancer Care in Nigeria; The way forward’ and with a sub theme ‘Cancer management in Nigeria: Recent advances in breast, cervical, prostate and haematological cancers’ which was organised by the Cancer Education and Advocacy Foundation of Nigeria (CEAFON).

Olaniyan who said before screening for a disease the origin must be known, as cervical cancer happens to be the major problem for women and the fourth most common cancer in women which can be prevented and reduced, said the use of cell phones and cameras to take pictures in training of medical personnel will come in handy judging from the epileptic cancer machines and treatment centres available in the country.

He said: “Using of cell phones and cameras to take pictures for useful training is very important. With this, the medical personnel at the other level‎ will be waiting to view and treat especially when there’s a breakdown in the facility. This will facilitate treatment and the patient will not be treated half way or left to die because cancer cells make big comebacks when they have been attacked without continuity.”

The President of CEAFON, Prof. Francis Abayomi Durosinmi-Etti in his welcome address, said so far, suggestions have been made on possible solutions to most of the problems including modalities to effect drastic reductions in the high cost of some cancer drugs.

He said: “I am pleased to say that after various consultations and other activities, some of these new biologic cancer drugs, existing chemotherapy drugs, surgery and radiotherapy and others, which may cost about N18- N20 million per patient treatment per year has now been substantially reduced‎ to less than 50 per cent and many more patients are benefitting especially from the new biologic drug treatment, particularly for breast cancer.

“The National Health Insurance Scheme (NHIS) has also started to offer some measured support for some cancer patients. We sincerely hope that such support is the beginning of more concrete steps to cover some forms of cancer management under the scheme.”

For alternative therapy to the treatment of cancer and its viability to lead to a cure, Durosinmi-Etti said it was a welcome development which is yet to be explored and used by several cancer experts‎. He said alternative therapies should not be shoved aside as new methods for and to treatment will continue to evolve with the sole aim of providing cure. However, he advised that early detection remains key for a successful treatment.