Persons are now getting an opportunity to detect cancer at its initial stage through Cancer Awareness Camps that the Cancer Institute of Guyana (CIG) has started to conduct around the country.

Two camps have been held so far, with the first being organized by the Guyana International Relief Organization (GIRO), an arm of the Guyana Islamic Trust, at Vergenoegen, East Bank Essequibo two weeks ago.

The National Committee of Sisters Affairs (NACOSA), the women’s wing of the Central Islamic Organization of Guyana, arranged the other camp at Adelphi, East Canje last Saturday. NACOSA had also set up a cancer lecture at Blairmont the previous week for a group of women who were graduating from a sewing class. At GIRO’s camp both men and women were given an opportunity to have free tests while the camp by NACOSA at Adelphi benefitted only women.

Dr. Mujahid Ghazie, who is attached to the Global Imaging Service Inc. (GISI) and based in Chicago, told Stabroek News that the camps were initiated so that persons can have early detection, hence early treatment. He pointed out too that the CIG was established a few years ago in collaboration with GISI and Minister of Health Dr Leslie Ramsammy for the same purpose. However, persons may only visit the CIG when they start having symptoms and when the cancer is at a critical stage.

Dr. Ghazi, who was on his second visit to Guyana to “train staff how to detect cancer with ultrasound,” said that the awareness camps will continue throughout the country with different faith-based and non-governmental organizations. He said so far the programme has attracted good responses from the public which has been turning out for the lectures and tests. Some participants have also been referred to the CIG in Georgetown for further tests and evaluation at reduced costs.

According to Dr. Ghazi, the CIG is “already the cheapest in treating cancer in the Islands.”

Dr. Narendra Bhalla, a Radiation Oncologist who is also based in Chicago, has been visiting Guyana every five weeks for two weeks since 2006 to treat all kinds of cancer such as for breast, cervical, colon, prostate and head and neck.

The treatment, he said involves radiation and chemotherapy and he reiterated that if the cancer is detected early, persons would get treated early.

Coordinator of NACOSA’s camp, Aleem Nasir told this newspaper that she was pleased to have the team from the CIG at Adelphi to enlighten women about cancer and breast self examination.

She pointed out that it was especially necessary for women to have testing early.