Private Hospital invests heavily to help fight silent killer

Story sponsored by Port Macquarie Gastroenterology.

Despite being one of the biggest killers in Australia, pancreatic cancer is also one of the hardest diseases to diagnose and treat. 

That’s why Port Macquarie Private Hospital has invested heavily to purchase a piece of specialist medical equipment that helps detect it early and gives patients the best possible chance of survival. 

Thanks to this purchase and the very specialised skills of gastroenterologist Dr Praka Sundaralingam, local patients can now have an Endoscopic Ultrasound (EUS) without having to travel to Sydney, Newcastle or north into Queensland.

The procedure is minimally invasive and involves the insertion of an ultrasound tube into the digestive track to take a closer look at the issue from the inside.

Much like a regular ultrasound, the endoscope uses high-frequency sound waves to produce detailed images of the lining and walls of the gastrointestinal tract and chest, including nearby organs such as the pancreas, liver and lymph nodes.

When an issue is detected, the instrument can also take a biopsy for later testing. All up the procedure takes about 45 minutes and doesn’t typically require an overnight stay. 

Dr Sundaralingam of Port Macquarie Gastroenterology, who has spent a year in Canada refining his EUS skills, is excited to introduce this new service to the Mid North Coast region.

He believes the new investment will be vital in the battle against pancreatic cancers and could save many lives.

In the last two and a half months alone, Dr Sundaralingam has already diagnosed three new cases in Port Macquarie, which has allowed the patients to begin treatment.

He said early detection and intervention were vital in the battle against any form of cancer because it becomes increasingly difficult to treat once it spreads to other organs. 

“The sooner you have the test and the sooner we can diagnose the cancer the sooner we can begin treating it. That really is key, especially with pancreatic cancer because it can remain rather asympotomatic until it’s too late,” he explained.

“Quite often by the time it is detected it’s already spread to other organs and that makes definitive treatment very difficult. Some of the people who have had their cancers diagnosed here have actually been quite fortunate because they have developed symptoms early on.” 

Symptoms can be nondescript like unexpected weight loss and abdominal discomfort. However, when the cancer begins to progress, patients can become jaundiced and nauseous. They can also become physically ill, suffer from fatigue, have spikes in blood sugar levels and begin passing discoloured urine and stools. 

In the last nine months alone, pancreatic cancer has claimed the lives of more than 3,000 Australians. It’s responsible for six per cent of all cancer deaths each year and, statistically, the chances of surviving more than five years with the disease is less than one in ten. 

The procedure is currently only available to patients with private health insurance or those willing to self-fund. However, Port Macquarie Private Hospital is in negotiations with the public hospital to expand the service to Medicare patients too.

Story sponsored by Port Macquarie Gastroenterology.