Beating cancers with early diagnosis is possible- Dr Osvaldo advises
Cancer is a killer disease but can be treated when diagnosed at early stage. This reminds people of the relevance of regular checkups to know health status. A total of 500,000 women develop Prostate Cancer globally while 300,000 succumb to the disease every year. The majority is from developing countries.
Figures from the World Health organization (WHO) show that Prostate Cancer takes lives of 921 out of 1304 women developing the disease every year in Rwanda.
According to Dr Osvaldo Rodriguez, a Gynecologist at Baho International Hospital who has been at the facility for six years, women rarely go for cancer checkups yet some live with it unknowingly at early stage.
He says, Baho International Hospital applies modern cancer diagnosing using scanning cameras ideally spotting the affected part of the body.
Dr Rodriguez explains that available equipment are particularly used to screen cervical cancer and breast cancer and uses other reliable methods to diagnose other sorts of cancer.
He also highlights major causes of breast and prostate cancer and advises on preventive measures.
“Engaging in sexual relations before the age of 22, doing sex with more than one man or having a husband engaging in sexual relations with other women, poor hygiene and weak immune system are among other causes of cervical cancer,” says Rodriguez.
Contrary to the cervical cancer, Rodriguez reveals that breast cancer is hereditary.
“You have cancer risks if there is a relative who caught or succumbed to cancer. This happens especially in the ages of 40,” he says.
Breast cancer is an uncontrolled growth of breast cells. Cancer occurs as a result of mutations, or abnormal changes, in the genes responsible for regulating the growth of cells and keeping them healthy. It attacks both sexes even though men have lower risks of developing breast cancer.
Dr Rodriguez advises women to pay special attention to all body changes that could be a way towards early detection and prevention.
As for prostate cancer, he says, people should rush for checkups to find out if no cancer is developing in their reproductive organs.
“A woman having engaged in sexual relations for the first time should go for prostate cancer screening not later than six months. Moreover, everyone is required to do cancer checkup at least every year to be treated early,” he advises.
“It is unfortunate that few people come for cancer screening yet we have all it takes to help them. The cancer is treated when detected early. They should develop the habit for regular checkups because prevention is better than cure,” added Rodriguez.
