Chairperson, Sindh Institute of Urology and Transplantation (SIUT), Dr Adib Rizvi on Friday termed commercialisation as main hurdle in organs' donation in Pakistan. He was speaking at a public awareness symposium held on the topic of 'Liver Cancer' at SIUT. Adib apprised the audiences about the need for proper care of liver patients to prevent complications including cirrhosis and liver cancer.
He highlighted the risk factors, causes, cure and treatment of the liver cancer. Dr Adib announced that from January 1, 2011, SIUT would open round the clock landline telephone service for donating organs from all over the country. Dr Zaigham Abbas of SIUT underlined the importance of liver in the body.
"Liver is the largest organ in the digestive system. Liver filters out germs in the blood, maintains blood sugar, carbohydrates, vitamins and iron. Liver produces bile to control fats. It detoxifies poisons and eliminates waste products," he added. Professor Wasim Jaffri, President, PSSLD, said that the important risk factors for liver cancer were hepatitis B, hepatitis C, obesity, alcohol, diabetes and toxins. He further said that hepatitis B and C are rampant in Pakistan. Almost five percent of Pakistanis were suffering from hepatitis C and about 2.5 percent of hepatitis B. A significant proportion of these patients will develop cirrhosis and liver cancer, he added.
Dr Saeed Hamid from Aga Khan University discussed the symptoms of liver cancer. Many of the liver cancer's patients have weight loss, lack of appetite, early satiety, jaundice, nausea, vomiting, swollen abdomen, itching and feeling of lump in right side of upper abdomen, he said. Dr Ashfaq from Hamdard University said that patients of cirrhosis of liver should be screened for liver cancer through blood test (alpa fetoprotein) and ultrasound after every six months.
Dr Abdal from SIUT said that if the disease is detected then it is curable. Cancer at early stage may be treated with surgical removal, radio frequency ablation and chemoembolisation. During question and answering session, the panel depicted a frustrating and depressing scenario, saying that despite the Parliament has passed organ donation law, people were still selling the organs and Pakistan has become hub of organs selling. They noted that hepatitis was rapidly increasing in Pakistan, as people live in very unhygienic condition.