Brain tumors becoming common

Brain Tumors are becoming a common cancer among children in Papua New Guinea.

Paediatric Oncology at Port Moresby General Hospital, Dr Benjamin Daur revealed this when speaking about Childhood cancer on NBC Talk Back recently.

Dr Daur said childhood cancer is affecting children as young as 3 months and highlighted the cancers affecting children in the country.

“Cancer that affects children is leukemia, which is cancer of the blood. We also have a lot of cases of retinoblastoma, which is cancer of the eye.

“Lymphomas, which are cancer in the glands or the lymph nodes.” Dr Daur said.

Cancer remains a killer disease in Papua New Guinea, it continues to affect people across different age groups and placing immense pressure on the country’s health services.

Childhood cancer is all forms of cancer that is affecting our children population.

Dr Daur says Brain Tumors are now common in our children.

He said cancer can affect people at any age, the youngest patient he attended to was a 3 months’ baby and oldest an 18-year-old.

“We also have a lot of brain tumours, which is something that we haven't been seeing previously, but is becoming a bit more common nowadays.” He said.

Dr Daur stressed on the need for early detection and treatment.