JOS – Dr Pokop Bupwatda, a consultant in Public Health, Jos University Teaching Hospital (JUTH), has said that routine medical check-up could help in the early detection of cancerous cells in humans.
Bupwatda, who is also the Chairman, Nigeria Medical Association (NMA), Plateau State. chapter, made this submission in an interview with newsmen in Jos.
The physician said that most cancer cases were usually detected in an advanced stage, which often made its management difficult and expensive.
“Most people only come to the hospital or seek medical help when the cancerous tumour is at an advanced stage but with routine check-up, such cells can be detected in time.
“When such cells are detected in time, it can be effectively managed. When management begins early, the consequent complications that could result into death are averted,’’ he explained.
He said that during routine medical check-up, women were taught how to check for lumps in their breast because breast cancer remained the commonest form of cancer found in women.
“If the lump is detected in time, it can be removed by surgery,” he said.
He said that it was far cheaper for individuals to go for regular medical check-up, which were the most effective way in detecting most of the cancerous cells in good time.
According to him, early detection is necessary in the treatment and management of the cells before they grow to an advanced stage.
He advised men and women to go for medical check-up at least twice in a year.
According to him, during the check-up, a comprehensive examination is carried out, to detect any abnormality within the individual body system.
Bupwatda explained that “regular check-up helps in detecting in men, if their prostrate specific antigen is high, if it is, further medical tests are conducted for its effective management.
“In women, pap smear tests are conducted to detect for the Human Papiloma Virus (HPV), which causes cervical cancer,” he said.