An Australian trained Obstetrician and Gynaecologist, Dr Uche Menakaya has advised women with ovarian cancer symptoms to consult trained specialists early enough for possible solutions.
Menakaya gave the advice yesterday at the three-day Coastal/Junic Gynecologic Ultrasound Training Programme, which was held in Warri, Delta State.
The Australian-based Nigerian gynaecologist, who is one of the key facilitators of the training, said that the life span of an ovarian cancer patient could be increased by about 70 or 80 per cent when diagnosed early.
He added that early detection would have a better clinical outcome and urged women with the symptoms to quickly go for an ultrasound.
“Women should have access to properly trained specialists that can make early diagnosis. Early diagnosis increases the life span of a woman with ovarian cancer and those with late cancer detection have less than30 per cent chances of survival.” Menakaya said.
He said that early detection would have better outcome clinically and better chances of survival.
“If you have any symptom, go quickly for ultrasound where the specialist is properly trained.
“Women should begin to understand that these services are available and certain diseases are easier to treat when detected early without affecting the quality of their lives.
“The problem is that when those diseases advance, it becomes very difficult to treat, he said.
The gynaecologist said that there was need for an improved advocacy on why women should always go for ultrasound.
He urged the government at all levels to invest in ultrasound services by way of providing equipment to address the needs of the people.
“There should be regulatory framework to guide the use of ultrasound in Nigeria.
“For instance, in developed countries, ultrasound images are not released until eight years after, to protect the right of the woman but in Nigeria, it is not so” he said.
Menakaya urged government to provide training opportunities where ultrasound would be introduced in a structured way to improve on the skills of medical doctors.
The medical expert advised the participants to always ask for clinical history of their patients before treatment of any ailment.
According to him such clinical history may include: their age, menstrual circle and number of children while conducting the ultrasound to enable them to know more about the patient.
Several instructors in the medical field including Dr Kingsley Agholor, Prof. Bukar Mohammed and Dr Janet Akinmoladun among others took the participants through the intensive theoretical and practically inclined training programme.
The programme was attended by 35 participants from different parts of the country.
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