New prostrate cancer treatment begins in June

Page 31: March 11, 2008.
Story: Albert K. Salia

PROSTRATE cancer patients in Ghana and the sub-region are to be treated with the latest technology in the field at the Korle Bu Teaching Hospital from June this year.
Under a package offered by Bard Urological of Germany, the hospital would be provided with equipment to set up a brachetherapy unit to treat prostrate cancer patients.
Prostrate cancer patients in Ghana and the sub-region are currently treated through a process known in medical circles as radical prostatectomy and the external beam radiotherapy at the hospital.
Those who are treated under these methods suffer from impotence and incontinence.
The probability of patients being treated under the brachetherapy suffering from impotence and incontinence was limited.
Currently, prostrate cancer patients who are able to afford the brachetherapy treatment have to travel to South Africa or the United Kingdom for fees not below £14,000.
The company has also agreed to insure the equipment, provide training for the staff of the centre on the use of the equipment and bring down specialists to treat the first five cases free of charge.
Two of the hospital’s specialists, Dr J. E. Mensah and Dr Joel Yanney, have undergone further training in the treatment procedures under a sponsorship deal by Bard Urological Inc.
It is estimated that in the first four years of its establishment, 100, 130, 150 and 170 patients would be treated.
The chief executive of the hospital, Dr Ben Annan, told the Daily Graphic that the establishment of the centre would help reduce the cost of prostrate cancer patients.
He said it was estimated that the cost of treating a patient in Ghana would be between 6,000 euros and 7,000 euros against £14,000 in the UK, excluding air ticket and hotel bills.
He said the only brachetherapy centre in Africa was in South Africa.
According to Dr Annan, the establishment of a centre in Ghana was, therefore, good news not only for Ghana but West Africa.
Throwing more light on the brachetherapy for prostrate cancer patients, Dr Mensah said it was the latest of the treatment options for prostrate cancer patients.
The other options, he said, were the radical prostatectomy and external beam radiotherapy.
Dr Mensah explained that the side effects of the treatment for prostrate cancer patients were impotence and incontinence, with 95 per cent of patients undergoing the radical prostatectomy and external beam radiotherapy being the worst affected.
He said the brachetherapy had become the preferred treatment options in America and Europe.
Dr Mensah said although there was no accurate cancer registry for men in Ghana, 50 per cent of genito-urinary deaths at Korle Bu were due to cancer of the prostrate.