Experts at the Memorial Sloan Kettering Cancer Centre (MSKCC) in New York have trained Nigerian radiologists and radiographers to enable them achieve better healthcare for women in Nigeria.
The training, which took place at BT Health and Diagnostic Centre (BTHDC) at Lagos State University Teaching Hospital (LASUTH), aims to strengthen breast cancer diagnosis and treatment in Nigeria, leveraging the advanced MRI techniques proven effective at MSKCC.
SKCC team lead, Dr. Jeffrey Reiner, highlighted the significance of the collaborative effort, saying,”We have managed to substantially decrease breast cancer mortality in the United States (US) through these advanced MRI techniques. Our goal is to replicate this success worldwide.”
BT Health and Diagnostic Centre stands out as one of the few diagnostic centres in Nigeria that currently offers breast MRI. Given this, MSKCC is keen on partnering closely with collaborators at BT Health and diagnostic centres, ensuring they are well-versed in the latest diagnostic techniques.
Another radiologist from MSKCC, Dr. Victoria Mango, commended PPC Limited and the BT Health and Diagnostic Centre for their proactive approach.
He said, “It is essential that patients receive accurate diagnosis and treatment, this training will go a long way in ensuring that.”
Mango emphasised the critical role of imaging in breast cancer detection, saying “Breast cancer detection relies heavily on the right tools. At present, in some parts of Nigeria, the primary detection method remains a physical examination. This technique necessitates the tumor to be large enough for detection through touch.”
Mango said, “With imaging, the potential to discover cancer when it is still minute, before it can be palpated by a surgeon, becomes a reality.”
