lightstalkers.com

A medical specialist says cancer treatment in South Sudan is hindered by a lack of ultra-modern medical facilities.

Dr. Oromo Francis, who is a specialist at Juba Teaching Hospital, says South Sudan still does not have a cancer treatment center and chemotherapy, although cases of cancer are on the increase in the country.

Dr Oromo told Eye Radio’s Dawn Show that the hospital can diagnose cases of cancer but it is not able to offer treatment for late stages of the disease.

“We have diagnostic methods, diagnostic facilities for cancer: I am one of those who diagnose people. We also have other facilities: the CT scan is available in Juba. But in terms of treatment, the only available line is surgery. If you detect cancer in its early stages, we can remove it by operation, that is surgery. But if it has gone to a more advanced stage, then we don’t have the facility here because that one needs chemotherapy and X-rays.”

Dr. Oromo said patients at an advanced stage of cancer have to seek treatment abroad, in Jordan, Germany or India.

He said cancer is dangerous if not detected early.

“Cancer is an abnormal growth of tissues whose growth is not coordinated: it is uncontrolled cell growth. We have many cases of cancer but we don’t have statistical data. We have cancer cases in the country, a big number of them.”

 Dr. Oromo said cancer can be cured with surgery, radiotherapy or chemotherapy, if detected early.

The UN’s World Health Organization says many cancers can be prevented by avoiding exposure to common risk factors such as tobacco smoke.