Number of cancer patients increasing in ChechnyaTimur Aliyev, North Caucasus - The number of people with life threatening tumors and cancer is on the rise in the Chechen Republic, announced Ismail Adizov, chief physician of the Central Oncology Outpatient Clinic.
According to his records, more than 1,500 cancer patients were admitted to the clinic during 2003. The most widespread types of this disease are: gastrointestinal, lung, skin and breast. “More than a quarter of the cases are very serious and require constant dosage of painkillers,” said Adizov.
He pointed out that the actual number of cases is probably even higher as accurate statistics are hard to come by since many people travel out of the country to get treatment.
Moreover, the average age of patients has dropped, which he finds most disturbing. “At one time it was people aged 55 and older who came to us for treatment, but nowadays they are as young as 40; and in the case of women, even younger,” he added.
He explained that this is due to the heavy emotional and psychological burden imposed on the population during the last two armed conflicts. In addition, he contended that the development of cancerous cells in one's body is also caused by pollution and immediate contact with petroleum products.
Adizov regreted that his clinic cannot provide comprehensive treatment for the patients. “For one thing, the hospital is not yet completely remodeled; with the funds we received only initial repairs could be made.”
Another reason preventing a thorough diagnosis is the lack of basic medical equipment. “The clinic is in dire need of X-ray and mammography machines that would enable us to discover breast cancer at an early stage. At present there is no radiotherapy facility anywhere in the republic, which is necessary for about 70% of all cancer patients,” he explained.
“We would like to be able to diagnose our patients properly, but until we get some good diagnostic equipment that won’t be possible,” concluded Adizov. (D/E,T) |
