Endoscopic camp to detect gastric cancer in rural areas

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SANDAKAN: There is a need for endoscopic services to detect cancer in rural areas as most cases are often detected late.

The surgical department of Duchess of Kent Hospital (HDOK) started the endoscopic camp project in 2013. Since then, the medical team of HDOK who conducted the camp have carried out the project at Beluran Hospital, Kinabatangan Hosital, Telupid Health Clinic and Tongod Health Clinic.

The camp aims to increase the detection of early gastric cancer and colon cancer in rural areas through awareness talks, physical examinations, stool occult blood test and oesophago-gastric-duedeno-scopy (OGDS) procedure.

Recently, the HDOK medical team led by head of general surgery department, Dr Lai Chung Ket, assisted by Dr Mohd Faris Mokhtar along with 17 other staff, including doctors and nurses, had carried out the endoscopy camp at Beluran Hosital.

Twenty-eight patients from Beluran district area were screened during the endoscopic camp. From the number, 20 patients underwent the OGDS; a procedure to examine patients who have gastritis symptoms to look for gastric ulcer, gastric cancer and oesophageal cancer as well as Helicobacter pylori (H.pylori).

A total of 11 out of the 20 patients tested positive for H.pylori infection. This infection is a known cause for gastritis and an established class A carcinogen for gastric ulcer.

During the endoscopic camp, 22 patients from the total 28 patients underwent ultrasound abdomen examination. Nine patients had normal findings while two patients were found to have gallstone, six patients with fatty liver, one patient with renal stone, three patients with liver cysts and one patient with renal cyst.

Generally, stomach cancer shows no sign at an early stage and may be considered as a common abdominal pain. Symptoms such as stomach bleeding, vomiting after meals, less blood, sudden weight loss and lumps in the abdomen shows the cancer had spread and reached the final stage.

While the intake of ‘gastric medicine’ without knowing the exact diagnosis can be harmful, the patient can potentially be cured of cancer if detected at an early stage.

Therefore, Lai said patients in rural areas should take the opportunity to get  screened during endoscopic camp.