Center helps detect cancerous cells

JAKARTA (JP): Cancer may be curable if detected at an early stage, says Mrs. Umar Wirahadikusumah, chairperson of the Indonesian Cancer Foundation.

"Many people suffer from cancer in advanced stages without even realizing that their bodies are affected by deadly cancerous cells," she said.

Lack of awareness of the seriousness of the disease and lack of medical facilities for its early detection have prevented people from discovering cancerous cells in their bodies.

To encourage people to have regular health checkups, the foundation established the Center of Early Diagnostic for cancer in Lebak Bulus, South Jakarta, in l990.

"Many cancer patients can still be treated properly because they are still in the early stages of the disease," Mrs. Umar pointed out.

The Rp 1.4 billion (US$622,222) center, the first of its kind in Indonesia, is not a hospital although it is equipped with high-tech medical equipment to facilitate early detection of certain cancers.

The construction was funded by the Ministry of Social Affairs (Rp 800 million), the Jakarta administration and by private donations including one from President Soeharto and Mrs. Tien Soeharto.

"The center concentrates more on preventive actions rather than curative treatment," explained Dr. Melissa Luwia, the center's director.

The center offers various facilities including a free-of- charge cancer information center and medical consultation by both general practitioners and oncologists (by appointment).

The center does not charge for consultations with general practitioners.

"We only charge a minimum fee for cancer detection as compared to other hospitals or health centers," she said.

A woman who has a Pap smear, for example, is only charged Rp 5,000 ($2.50), the cheapest in town. A mammography is available at Rp 50,000 ($25).

"With the minimum charges we are actually unable to cover our overhead costs. Therefore, we still need a large operation fund from the foundation," she explained.

At present, the center is only able to test for some cancers such as breast cancer and cervical cancer.

"It is still very difficult to detect other kinds of cancer such as lung or colon cancer because those affected do not suffer pains until after the has cancer reached the advanced stages," she noted.

"All the medical equipment here is limited to early detection of cancer related diseases. If we find a patient has advanced cancer we will immediately refer the patient to a number of hospitals which have a special agreement with the center," Dr. Melissa maintained.

Currently, the center has an agreement with the Dharmais Cancer Hospital, the state-owned Cipto Mangunkusumo General Hospital, Pertamina Hospital, Metropolitan Medical Center, Saint Carolus and Persahabatan Hospital.

"We refer the patient to the right hospital and oncologists. Many patients, particularly those coming from outside Jakarta, spend quite a lot of money because they do not go to the right specialists," the doctor continued.

She went on to say that cancer strikes people from all groups of society. Therefore, the target market of the center ranges from low to upper class communities.

The center, she said, provides a special program for patients from the low-income group.

"They can receive a special discount or be given a special medical allowance, limited to 'anti-cancer medicine', from the foundation," the doctor added.

People have started to realize the importance of having tests for early cancer detection, she said. Every month, the center receives between 1,200 and 1,500 patients. "Many of them are healthy people who are willing to undergo tests for early detection. This is a very encouraging situation," she said.

When we deal with cancer, the best thing to do is to discover the disease at the earliest possible stage, she concluded. (raw)