Dr. M. Ali Memon
Dr. Mohammad Ali Memon is currently working as Clinical Oncologist at Cancer & Breast Clinic, Hyderabad for about two years. Muhammad Fareed, Publisher & Managing Editor, Medical Review and his team got the opportunity to interview Dr. Mohammad
Ali Memon. Following are the excerpts.
Q – Please tell something about yourself.
Ans – I am Dr. Mohammad Ali Memon graduated in 1985 from Liaquat Medical College, Jamshoro. Later on I did my Membership in 1988 and Fellowship in 2008 from College of Physician & Surgeons Karachi in the field of Radiotherapy in 1988.
I did my internship from Liaquat Medical College and Hospital Jamshoro during 1985-06. Then I completed my Postgraduate Training from JPMC, Karachi leading to MCP in Radiotherapy from 1986 to 1987. In the meantime, I led Fatima Bai Hospital Karachi as a Medical Superintendent for about two years. Then worked as consultant Clinical Oncologist at Cancer & Breast Clinic Hyderabad. Meanwhile I proceeded to Shaukat Khanum Memorial Hospital and Research Centre, Lahore for FCPS Training for two years led to FCP in 2008.
At present I am working as Clinical Oncologist at Neuro Spinal Medical Institute Saddar Karachi for four days and at Cancer & Breast Clinic Saddar Hyderbad for two days.
Q – What are the common cancers you encounter.
Ans – Overall cancers of oral cavity are the most frequent in male and females. Southern Region of our country especially Karachi is one of the highest incidence zone for oral cancers in the world. This is just because of Pan, Gutka, Naswar, Beatle Nuts and Tobacco chewing. The questions arises, why not all patients with oral cancers have these habits. There are few other factors which may be responsible for Oral Cancer, but it has been seen that more than 95 percent if not 100 percent of the oral cancer patients had these habits of Pan, Gutka, Mainpuri, Naswar, Beatle Nuts and Tobacco use.
Submucous Fibrosis, a pre-malignant condition commonly seen in this population. It indicates the major contribution of these habits. Furthermore, there is no justification of using these social evils. Other cancers commonly seen are Carcinoma Breast Cancer, Carcinoma Lung Cancer, Carcinoma Hypo-pharynx Cancer and Liver Cancer.
Q – Is there any gender prevalence.
Ans – Yes, besides cancers of gender limited organs like Cervic, Ovaries, Postrate or Testis, the Carcinoma Lung Cancer is common in males due to habit of tobacco smoking and occupation factors. Gall bladder cancer is more common in females due to more incidence of gall stones in females.
Q – What are the treatments available in the country.
Ans – Although limited but all kinds of basic treatments like Surgery, Radiotherapy, Chemotherapy is available in our country. With limited resources i.e. finance, trained experts, latest high-tech equipments, we cannot cope with rapidly progressive field of oncology. Please note that the field of oncology is growing, although slowly, over last decade. Now there is segregation of the field in terms of clinical oncology, radiation oncology, medical oncology and paedriatic oncology. Surgical oncology has not been given due importance so far.
Q – Are the treatment facilities satisfactory.
Ans – No, as said above there is great room for improvement. There is need of proper funding, development of experts and procurement of latest equipment. Public awareness is the most important factor in upgrading all these facilities.
Q – Measures necessary to further augment treatment facilities.
Ans – Public awareness, awareness in health authorities, health personells. Public should be aware of their healthcare, health authorities should properly plan to provide healthy atmosphere, health professionals should provide the best scientific health services. All are required to augment treatment facilities. Quite a few cancers are preventable. One of the most important example in which three factors mentioned involved is liver cancer.
Most important etiological factor for Liver Cancer is Hepatitis B & C virus. Everybody knows that the vector of spreading this deadly virus are the syringes. Repack by the mafia belongs to general public, sale and reuse due to cheaper rates by stores and by medical professionals.
If public is aware of the fact and proper hospital measures are taken by health authorities and medical professional then the incidence of liver cancer can be brought down to less then 50 percent of present incidence. With these measures, not only liver cancer is prevented but many other diseases are also prevented.
Q – Does nuclear therapy effective in the treatment.
Ans – Yes. In most cancers the surgery, radiotherapy and chemotherapy are the most common and effective treatment modalities avail-able. With advancement in the equipment and technology, the Radiation Oncology is now proven highly specific, targeted and effective treatment modalities. Safe of Nuclear energy is of great important in diagnosis and treatment of many disease. Radiation oncology and nuclear oncology have enormously grown during last two decades.
Q – What are the level of cancer awareness among the people and how the doctors can help to increase the level of awareness.
Ans – Awareness in public is very poor about cancer and its treatments. That’s why patients usually report late to the tertiary healthcare setups when productivity of costly treatment becomes worthless. Family doctors should have refreshers courses to update their knowledge so that they can guide the patients to get best out of available resources. To keep the public conscious about their health, electronic and print media should be properly utilized by the health professional in this regard.
Q – How will you rate prevalence of cancer in rural and urban areas.
Ans – Comparative awareness of cancers in urban area is better but the atmosphere is poor. Ultimate effect is accumulated as no much difference in the result, although prevalence and patterns of different cancers is different in two areas like Hepatitis C, viral infection is common in rural areas; so we have more patients in liver cancers from rural areas.
Q – What treatment options are available through use of medicine and which are the common drug used.
Ans – Conventional Chemo-therapy, Hormone Therapy, Immunotherapy and now High Targeted Therapies are effective and available throughout the world but the later are costly treatment options. Common drugs are schedules in specific order/sequences and are different for different cancers.
Q – What is the stage of treatment of breast cancers available at present.
Ans – Breast cancer is the most common among females. A lot of work has been done and under process. Lots of achievements have been done. Now clinician can expect good response even in stage IV disease which was a dream in past. Breast cancer is now being considered as a field rather than a topic.
Q – In medical colleges are the students getting sufficient teaching in the subject of Oncology. If not then what do you suggest in improving the teaching standard.
Ans – No there is no sufficient coaching / training for undergraduate medical students in the subject. In final year of medical education atleast five lecturers should be spared for General Oncology and five lecturers for specific management modalities to update the knowledge of the students. Final year students should spend atleast two weeks in highly equipped oncology setup. (Courtesy – ICI Pakistan Ltd.)