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Free cancer test for women
By
EDDIE MOSES
MINISTER for Community Development, Dame Carol Kidu, launched the second MVIL and PIH sponsored free mammography campaign at the Pacific International Hospital on Monday. Dame Kidu said she was very pleased to be associated with this program and thanked PIH for its civic responsibility. She said breast cancer if not detected and treated early is a death sentence. "Women in PNG die at a younger age than elsewhere and the early detection of breast cancer can save women dying. Nine percent of women die of breast cancer and we must make it our aim to take the percentage right down." she said She said women must take ownership of their health. "I advise every woman in PNG to do self examination for signs of a lump and go to a clinic for referral to PIH. Don't wait until you are sick. Do it as something routine." she said. Dame Kidu also encouraged women to take PAP smear tests for the detection of cervical cancer. Dr Mathias Sapuri, deputy director of PIH said PIH was very proud to be contributing to health issues in PNG. He said it was the hospital's community service obligation to assist in the fight against breast cancer. He explained that a mammogram identifies hotspots in the breasts and biopsies are performed to determine whether the tumors are benign or malignant. Malignant or cancerous tumors are then surgically removed. He revealed that three and a half thousand women died of breast cancer annually and encouraged women over 30 to come forward and access this very important life saving service on any weekday between 8am and 5pm to book a free mammogram. The Doctor reiterated Dame Kidu's call for sexually active women to take PAP smear tests every 2 years. PIH has already performed over 3000 free mammography tests. The program is designed to provide PNG women with access to diagnostic services for the early detection and treatment of breast cancer which is the world's number one killer of pre and post menopausal women. A mammogram is a modern painless X-Ray test to identify breast cancer not detectable by physical examination. The mammogram X-Ray machine at PIH is the only one in PNG. |
NEWS
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