The Minister for Health has raised serious concern about the growing number of liver cancer cases in Fiji, found mainly in young iTaukei males.
Health Minister Dr Ifereimi Waqainabete revealed this at the MIOT International 'Win Against Cancer' seminar held at the Grand Pacific Hotel last night.
The seminar was hosted by MIOT International to address various cancer related issues in Fiji.
Dr Waqainabete says a growing worry is an increasing liver abscess problem in Fiji.
A liver abscess is a pus‑filled mass inside the liver. Common causes are abdominal conditions such as appendicitis or diverticulitis due to haematogenous spread through the portal vein.
He says he would like to find the association between liver abscess and liver cancer.
The Health Minister says in Fiji, breast cancer has overtaken cervical cancer as the most common cancer. He says there are about 250 confirmed cases in a year and for every person that is diagnosed with breast or cervical cancer, there are about 5 people who are not diagnosed.
He says we need mechanisms to be able to do this.
He says one of the challenges faced in Fiji is developing a scanning program and the biggest challenge is being able to find appropriate financing to develop a program.
The Minister has thanked MIOT International for investing in Fiji and he hopes that the government and MIOT can work together to improve the health sector in Fiji.
