Registry established at HFH to consolidate data of cancer patients

Rawalpindi

A dedicated unit to consolidate the data of cancer patients has been established at the Surgical Department Unit-1 of Holy Family Hospital (HFH) on Thursday on the eve of World Cancer Day.

The launching ceremony of the Cancer Registry organised to mark World Cancer Day was attended by eminent oncologists, senior faculty members of Rawalpindi Medical College and other hospitals, medical students and nursing and paramedical staff members.

Principal Rawalpindi Medical College and Allied Hospitals Professor Dr. Muhammad Umar was the chief guest on the occasion.

Addressing on the occasion, he said that the RMC has focused to update all specialties in teaching hospitals and in order to get relevant data and improve the services of health care in hospitals Cancer Registry had been established with the assistance of surgical specialists and young doctors. He said according to the WHO, if the incidence of cancer continues to grow at the reported rate, the number of deaths worldwide from cancer will increase to more than 13.1 million by 2030. However, as many as 40 percent of deaths from cancer are preventable because more than 70 percent of deaths from cancer occur in economically less developed countries like Pakistan. He said World Cancer Day and the World Cancer Campaign have become important mechanisms for drawing attention to cancer prevention and treatment in these countries.

Shifa International Hospital Oncology Department Head Dr. Kamran Rasheed, addressing the participants, said that there is no national cancer registry in Pakistan, therefore, it is difficult to get an idea about the disease burden in the country.

Professor Dr. Jhangir Sarwar, highlighting the global burden of cancer, said that cancer is an ominous and scary disease but early diagnosis and proper treatment have increased the chances of recovery. He said that the Cancer Registry established at the Holy Family Hospital, Rawalpindi, would help in compiling data, investigative reports, case studies and other relevant information to mange more effective ways and methods to overcome this fatal disease. He said Cancer Registry data will also be a source of future research in Rawalpindi Medical College and allied hospitals which will provide a guideline regarding patient management in right direction.

Dr. Usman Qureshi briefed about the working of Cancer Registry and said that it will give an exact picture of the disease. He said it will maintain data on a particular type of cancer such as data on breast cancer.