Department of Health
Department of Health Department of Health 2022/08/15 - 22:00
A public-private partnership will see 12 state prostate cancer patients receive an advanced cancer treatment known as low-dose-rate (LDR) brachytherapy surgery at Charlotte Maxeke Johannesburg Academic Hospital (CMJAH).
Prostate LDR brachytherapy is a treatment which can be used alone to cure early-stage prostate cancer or combined with external beam radiotherapy for slightly more advanced cancer.
According to CMJAH’s head of radiation oncology department, Dr Durven Ramiah the procedure involves patients having tiny radioactive “seeds” inserted into the prostate under ultrasound guidance in theatre.
The seeds then remain permanently in the prostate emitting radiation to the prostate only, and with the surrounding organs getting little to no radiation. Because of this, the cure rate for this procedure is high with minimal side effects.
It offers men with early-stage prostate cancer a better option of treatment other than either having a radical prostatectomy (operation to remove the prostate) or external beam radiotherapy. Patients are usually discharged the same day or a day after the procedure.
“The procedure is done in theatre, and involves a radiation oncologist, urologist, anaesthetist, medical physicist, and an oncology theatre nurse. The seeds remain permanently in the prostate and destroy cancer cells there, while providing little to no radiation to the surrounding structures such as the bladder or bowel,’’ said Dr Ramiah.
This treatment is thanks to a public-private partnership workshops between the CMJAH and multinational medical technology company BD Africa. The hospital will host workshops where 12 prostate cancer patients will get operational procedure which costs between R35 000 to R50 000 in private care. To date, two patients have already received the treatment, with the rest expected to receive treatment in the upcoming weeks.
Professor Ahmed Adam, who heads the urology department at CMJAH said the procedure has a good side-effect profile. “The known side effects may include burning when passing urine, blood in the urine, retrograde ejaculation, or discomfort passing stool to name a few. However, the rates of occurrence of some of these side effects is low compared to other treatment modalities,’’ said Professor Adam.
Highlighting the significance of the partnership, Ian Wakefield – General Manager for BD Africa – said it was important for the organisation to get involved in such initiatives.
Wakefield added that such workshops do not only grant patients access to specialised treatment which they otherwise may not have had access to but also equip healthcare workers with important skills on the latest medical technologies.
“This is just one of the ways in which our organisation can advance healthcare in the continent at large. Private and public sector collaboration is vital if we are to succeed in improving management of cancer. Partnerships are at the heart of our approach to advance health,” said Wakefield.
“The successful performance of the second LDR prostate brachytherapy procedure at a public hospital in Gauteng is a major step in the treatment of cancer patients at public health care facilities in the province,” said MEC for Health, Dr Nomathemba Mokgethi.
CMJAH CEO, Gladys Bogoshi applauded the workshops for changing the lives of men with early-stage prostate cancer. The CEO encouraged men to regularly test for prostate cancer at their nearest healthcare facility.
This will be the second time a group of state patients receive this advanced surgery following Chris Hani Baragwanath Academic Hospital patients who received the same surgery last year.
NOTE FOR EDITORS About Dr Duven Ramiah
The planned workshops will be led by Dr Duvern Ramiah, the Head of Radiation Oncology CMJAH. Dr Ramiah is a vastly experienced radiation oncologist and has an interest in breast cancer and prostate cancer radiotherapy. He has attended international workshops on prostate brachytherapy and has been doing the procedure for over 10 years. His articles are published in international journals, he is well-known both locally and internationally and has experience of working both in the private and public sector. As the recently appointed head of radiation oncology at Charlotte Maxeke Johannesburg Academic Hospital, he brings to the Gauteng public radiation oncology service skills that were previously not available, and the prostate LDR brachytherapy workshops are a case in point.
About BD Africa
BD is one of the largest global medical technology companies in the world and is advancing the world of healthTM by improving medical discovery, diagnostics and the delivery of care. The company supports the heroes on the frontlines of healthcare by developing innovative technology, services and solutions that help advance both clinical therapy for patients and clinical process for healthcare providers. BD and its 75,000 employees have a passion and commitment to help enhance the safety and efficiency of clinicians' care delivery process, enable laboratory scientists to accurately detect disease and advance researchers' capabilities to develop the next generation of diagnostics and therapeutics.
Ends
Issued by Gauteng Department of Health
For more information, Motalatale Modiba, Head of Communication on
064 803 0808 or mediaenquiries@gauteng.gov.za
For media releases, speeches and news visit the Gauteng Department
of Health’s portal at www.gauteng.gov.za
DOWNLOAD REPORTS
Media Statement - CMJAH perfoms second low-dose-rate prostate brachytherapy in public service in Gauteng_16Aug2022.pdf
Published 2022/08/15 - 22:00
RELATED PUBLICATIONS
Department of Health Department of Health 2022/08/15 - 22:00
A public-private partnership will see 12 state prostate cancer patients receive an advanced cancer treatment known as low-dose-rate (LDR) brachytherapy surgery at Charlotte Maxeke Johannesburg Academic Hospital (CMJAH).
Prostate LDR brachytherapy is a treatment which can be used alone to cure early-stage prostate cancer or combined with external beam radiotherapy for slightly more advanced cancer.
According to CMJAH’s head of radiation oncology department, Dr Durven Ramiah the procedure involves patients having tiny radioactive “seeds” inserted into the prostate under ultrasound guidance in theatre.
The seeds then remain permanently in the prostate emitting radiation to the prostate only, and with the surrounding organs getting little to no radiation. Because of this, the cure rate for this procedure is high with minimal side effects.
It offers men with early-stage prostate cancer a better option of treatment other than either having a radical prostatectomy (operation to remove the prostate) or external beam radiotherapy. Patients are usually discharged the same day or a day after the procedure.
“The procedure is done in theatre, and involves a radiation oncologist, urologist, anaesthetist, medical physicist, and an oncology theatre nurse. The seeds remain permanently in the prostate and destroy cancer cells there, while providing little to no radiation to the surrounding structures such as the bladder or bowel,’’ said Dr Ramiah.
This treatment is thanks to a public-private partnership workshops between the CMJAH and multinational medical technology company BD Africa. The hospital will host workshops where 12 prostate cancer patients will get operational procedure which costs between R35 000 to R50 000 in private care. To date, two patients have already received the treatment, with the rest expected to receive treatment in the upcoming weeks.
Professor Ahmed Adam, who heads the urology department at CMJAH said the procedure has a good side-effect profile. “The known side effects may include burning when passing urine, blood in the urine, retrograde ejaculation, or discomfort passing stool to name a few. However, the rates of occurrence of some of these side effects is low compared to other treatment modalities,’’ said Professor Adam.
Highlighting the significance of the partnership, Ian Wakefield – General Manager for BD Africa – said it was important for the organisation to get involved in such initiatives.
Wakefield added that such workshops do not only grant patients access to specialised treatment which they otherwise may not have had access to but also equip healthcare workers with important skills on the latest medical technologies.
“This is just one of the ways in which our organisation can advance healthcare in the continent at large. Private and public sector collaboration is vital if we are to succeed in improving management of cancer. Partnerships are at the heart of our approach to advance health,” said Wakefield.
“The successful performance of the second LDR prostate brachytherapy procedure at a public hospital in Gauteng is a major step in the treatment of cancer patients at public health care facilities in the province,” said MEC for Health, Dr Nomathemba Mokgethi.
CMJAH CEO, Gladys Bogoshi applauded the workshops for changing the lives of men with early-stage prostate cancer. The CEO encouraged men to regularly test for prostate cancer at their nearest healthcare facility.
This will be the second time a group of state patients receive this advanced surgery following Chris Hani Baragwanath Academic Hospital patients who received the same surgery last year.
NOTE FOR EDITORS About Dr Duven Ramiah
The planned workshops will be led by Dr Duvern Ramiah, the Head of Radiation Oncology CMJAH. Dr Ramiah is a vastly experienced radiation oncologist and has an interest in breast cancer and prostate cancer radiotherapy. He has attended international workshops on prostate brachytherapy and has been doing the procedure for over 10 years. His articles are published in international journals, he is well-known both locally and internationally and has experience of working both in the private and public sector. As the recently appointed head of radiation oncology at Charlotte Maxeke Johannesburg Academic Hospital, he brings to the Gauteng public radiation oncology service skills that were previously not available, and the prostate LDR brachytherapy workshops are a case in point.
About BD Africa
BD is one of the largest global medical technology companies in the world and is advancing the world of healthTM by improving medical discovery, diagnostics and the delivery of care. The company supports the heroes on the frontlines of healthcare by developing innovative technology, services and solutions that help advance both clinical therapy for patients and clinical process for healthcare providers. BD and its 75,000 employees have a passion and commitment to help enhance the safety and efficiency of clinicians' care delivery process, enable laboratory scientists to accurately detect disease and advance researchers' capabilities to develop the next generation of diagnostics and therapeutics.
Ends
Issued by Gauteng Department of Health
For more information, Motalatale Modiba, Head of Communication on
064 803 0808 or mediaenquiries@gauteng.gov.za
For media releases, speeches and news visit the Gauteng Department
of Health’s portal at www.gauteng.gov.za
DOWNLOAD REPORTS
Media Statement - CMJAH perfoms second low-dose-rate prostate brachytherapy in public service in Gauteng_16Aug2022.pdf
Published 2022/08/15 - 22:00
RELATED PUBLICATIONS