admin
Rumbidzayi Zinyuke-Health Buzz
Anyone who has had a relative who suffered from cancer would know of the term ‘kupiswa’ (being burnt) when one is referring to cancer treatment.
It makes sense because the effects the treatment has on a patient are similar to one that has been burnt.
So, whenever someone speaks of cancer, burning becomes part of that conversation.
But what people forget to mention is that the burning has nothing to do with fire. What is being referred to is actually radiotherapy.
It is the cancer cells that are being destroyed using radioactive energy.
Radiotherapy is a common treatment for cancer, but is often misunderstood by many.
It is one of the most common forms of treatment for cancers of the breast, brain, head and neck, prostate, bladder, cervix and uterus, skin, lung, oesophageal, anal and lymphomas.
However, there are some common misunderstandings or myths about radiotherapy.
It is these misconceptions and myths that make many people who need to undergo cancer treatment avoid going for chemotherapy or radiotherapy.
Many will try the traditional medicines and herbs first and only go for treatment after they realise that it has not worked.
But in most cases, it would have been too late.
According to experts, many Zimbabweans die of cancer when they could have received treatment and survived.
This is mostly blamed on lack of knowledge, which is one of the reasons why the country has such a burden of cancer.
Speaking at a cervical cancer awareness symposium recently, Radiation Oncologist at Parirenyatwa Hospital Radiation Centre, Dr Kudzai Makova, said the stigma surrounding cancer treatment was the greatest barrier in the access to radiotherapy and chemotherapy.
Cervical cancer is the commonest cancer we see in Zimbabwe.
Most women present with advanced stage disease and thus radiotherapy becomes one of the most important treatment modalities for these patients to get a good oncological outcome from treatment.
“There are lots of people in the communities who think radiography is a ‘burning’ treatment, when in actual fact it is the use of high energy x-rays in the treatment of cancer,” said Dr Makova.
“So, when this misconception is corrected, many women in the society who are diagnosed with cervical cancer may accept these treatments which include chemotherapy, radiotherapy and sometimes a combination of both treatments which we call chemo-radiation.”
Radiotherapy is the treatment of cancer using high energy x-rays to be able to kill the cancer cells.
Dr Makova said it was not possible for radiotherapy to be perceived by the human senses, hence the patient would not feel anything during treatment.
Radiotherapy can be used on its own or with chemotherapy, which is the treatment of cancer using medicines, some of which are administered intravenously or taken orally.
“None of these treatments use any heat or burning, so it is an important clarification that will correct the misconception that many patients have had for many years,” Dr Makova said.
Cancer remains one of the leading killer diseases across the world.
Zimbabwe is ranked among countries with the highest burden of cancer.
But with such misconceptions among the people, cancer could continue killing people as they wait until the last possible moment to seek health care.
Association of Therapy Radiographers of Zimbabwe chairperson Mrs Adriana Zanga said most of the challenges being faced in the country in terms of cancer are social.
“As a society, we need to approach cancer differently, from a curative approach to a preventive approach,” she said.
“The challenge we have is that there are people who make themselves doctors in the communities and discourage patients from accessing radiotherapy or chemotherapy.
“When some of these patients eventually come for treatment, they usually do so against their relatives advise. Unfortunately, we have others who give in to these negative comments and never come for treatment.”
Mrs Zanga said most patients who die soon after starting radiotherapy do not succumb to the intensity of the treatment but because they would have presented very late hence their bodies fail to respond to the treatments.
“Some patients would have gone to herbalists and traditional healers before they come to us as a last resort,” she said.
“Some of the patients are afraid to go on the machines because they actually expect physical burning when they are exposed to radiation but our role is to assure them and offer them counselling so that they are comfortable and they finish treatment. Not finishing treatment is harmful.”
What many fear as burning is actually radiation dermatitis or radiation burn which is a side effect of radiation therapy.
Most radiation burn symptoms are mild and easily treated.
A small number of people who receive radiation therapy may develop more serious symptoms that affect their daily life and may make them fearful or reluctant to continue radiation therapy.
However, healthcare providers understand all the ways radiation therapy can affect people receiving cancer treatment and they continuously evaluate ways to limit and treat radiation burn.
Most people whose treatment is close to the skin’s surface notice their skin is itchy and dry after the first session.
The skin may feel itchy and dry during treatment and some people develop radiation burn after their final session. This is because radiation keeps on working even after they have finished treatment.
The signs of radiation burn are reddening of white skin or darkening of skin that is black or brown, itchy skin, dry and peeling skin, swelling, blistering and open sores that may appear where skin is sweaty or damp, such as the armpits or under the breasts.
While this can deter many people, radiation and chemotherapy remains the best chance one can have to defeat cancer.
Experts say radiation in most of the cancers significantly improves disease control, decreases the risk of local recurrence and increases curability.
Radiation can lead to so-called ‘radiation-induced cancers’ but the risk is low. So the benefit of radiation therapy far outweighs the risk.
For Ms Susan Katuruza (37) a cervical cancer survivor, seeking treatment as soon as her stage four cancer was detected in 2021 had saved her life.
“I did not waste time thinking about it or being in denial and wondering where I would get the money.
“Fortunately, I had a strong support structure. My family came through with financial and moral support and I had my treatment at Parirenyatwa radiotherapy centre. I got chemotherapy and radiotherapy. I am now almost two years in remission,” she said.
Ms Katuruza said radiotherapy was painless and appealed to cancer patients to quickly embrace the treatment as it was essential to the fight against cancer.
While options for treatment are available, although expensive for most people who go to the private hospitals, there are better ways to fight the scourge of cancers.
Some local health centres however have challenges with machinery.
Although it is good to have the machines in all institutions, prevention remains better than cure.
In the case of cancer, it holds true.
Medical practitioner Dr Sydney Mukonoweshuro says the fight against cancer could be won on a prevention platform than a curative one.
“It is now an advocacy issue,” he said. “We have been quite progressive in adopting new technology.
“We just need to support these initiatives by spreading the word in churches and communities and not spreading conspiracy theories.
“The war cannot be won by Government alone, we have to participate as citizens to help spread the word of the importance of vaccines and screening.”
An educated community will help to ensure that every cancer is detected early and treated before it becomes too complicated.
Feedback: [email protected]
Online Reporter