Center helps detect cancerous cells
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)