The Cancer Institute of Guyana (CIG) is a non-profit organisation that has been in operation since 2006 as a result of a project between the Health Ministry and Global Imaging Services Inc. The Institute is touted as a one-stop centre for diagnosis, treatment, and follow-up of all types of cancer prevalent in Guyana.
The mission of the CIG is to provide evaluation; radiation treatment at a subsidised cost; follow-up services for patients with malignant and certain benign diseases which are performed in accordance with standards of the Health Ministry and the Pan American Health Organisation (PAHO) and to improve services by reaching out to individuals in remote villages who have no access to education, screening, and diagnosis.
The CIG has a team of qualified professionals that manage their day-to-day operations. The Institute offers a wide variety of services which include MRI, mammograms, ultrasounds, x-rays, and bone density testing.
“CIG understands the special needs of people of Guyana and makes these services available to the patients who come through the Ministry of Health at a subsidised rate. Global Imaging Service and Cancer Institute of Guyana understand and value the need to improve the health of the community it serves, and to this end, we pledge to work with governmental agencies/NGOs and physicians groups to improve health awareness by way of education, screening, diagnosis and treatment,” the CIG says on its website.
In an effort to provide more effective treatment of cervical cancer, the Cancer Institute in 2018 boosted its cervical treatment services with the procurement of a Brachytherapy machine aimed at significantly reducing the instances of remission.
The treatment of cervical cancer occurs in three stages and includes chemotherapy, external radiation and internal radiation.
The Cancer Institute’s Medical Director, Dr Sian Chakraborthy had said that with the acquisition of the Brachytherapy machine, Guyana was now in compliance with international treatment specifications. He noted that the machine was not only for the treatment of cervical cancer but can be used for a variety of other cancer treatments, adding that the primary focus for now is the treatment of cervical cancer. Brachytherapy or internal radiation is the final part of cervical cancer treatment. The Brachytherapy machine is fully computerised.
According to the Cancer Institute’s figures, the number of patients diagnosed with cervical cancer fluctuates every year. However, most of the time, the diagnosis is made in the final stages of the cancer since most women wait until they are seeing signs and experiencing symptoms before they get checked out. 
In 2011, there were 42 cases diagnosed at the Cancer Institute. In 2012, there were 30; 2013 saw 54 new cases; 2014, a total of 41; 2015, a whopping 68; 2016 saw a drop to 55 and ever since the number has been dropping with 50 and 46 in 2017 and 2018 respectively.
The Cancer Institute says that cervical cancer is a type that is entirely preventable, and, if prevention fails, it can be completely cured if detected in the early stages. The CIG screens over 1000 women per year for cervical cancer and states that it is the second most common cancer in women in Guyana, adding that it is often detected too late.
Cervical cancer starts in the cells of the cervix, which is the opening leading to a woman’s uterus. When cervical cancer first appears, there are no symptoms and the woman is entirely unaware that a deadly disease process has started in her body. Later, as the cancer grows, there may be pelvic pain and bleeding. Cervical cancer is entirely preventable, because it is caused by a class of viruses called Human Papilloma Viruses (HPV), and vaccines are available to prevent infection from those viruses. Some types of HPV do not cause any disease; some types may cause non-cancerous warts, and other types result in deadly cervical cancer.
Cervical cancer that is detected early is more likely to be treated successfully. Most guidelines suggest that women begin screening for cervical cancer and precancerous changes at age 21. Screening tests include:
A Pap smear test during which your doctor scrapes and brushes cells from your cervix, which are then examined in a lab for abnormalities. A Pap test can detect abnormal cells in the cervix, including cancer cells and cells that show changes that increase the risk of cervical cancer.
HPV DNA test. The HPV DNA test involves testing cells collected from the cervix for infection with any of the types of HPV that are most likely to lead to cervical cancer. This test may be an option for women age 30 and older, or for younger women with an abnormal Pap test.
Stages of cervical cancer include:
* Stage I. Cancer is confined to the cervix.
* Stage II. Cancer is present in the cervix and upper portion of the va gina.
* Stage III. Cancer has moved to the lower portion of the vagina or in ternally to the pelvic side wall.
* Stage IV. Cancer has spread to nearby organs, such as the bladder or rectum, or it has spread to other areas of the body, such as the lungs, liver or bones.
Early-stage cervical cancer is typically treated with surgery to remove the uterus (hysterectomy). A hysterectomy can cure early-stage cervical cancer and prevent recurrence. But removing the uterus makes it impossible to become pregnant.
Simple hysterectomy: The cervix and uterus are removed along with the cancer. A simple hysterectomy is usually an option only in very early-stage cervical cancer.
Radical hysterectomy: The cervix, uterus, part of the vagina and lymph nodes in the area are removed with the cancer.
Minimally invasive surgery may be an option for early-stage cervical cancer.
Surgery that preserves the possibility of becoming pregnant also may be an option, if you have very early-stage cervical cancer without lymph node involvement.
