Long-anticipated PET scanner to be unveiled at Apeksha Cancer Hospital on 1 April

• Blood donation campaign tomorrow from 7:30 a.m. to 5p.m. at the Apeksha Cancer Hospital with the opening of the hospital’s new blood bank building 

By Shannon Jayawardena

The long anticipated PET scanner is to be unveiled on 1April at 10a.m.at the Apeksha Cancer Hospital, following a walk organised by the Fight Cancer Team from the Wellawatte opposite Roxy Cinema to the hospital commencing at 7:30 a.m.

The machine worth Rs. 250 million will be put to use at the very beginning of next month to treat countless lives of those suffering from various types of cancers in Sri Lanka. 

Gifting the scanner was the vision of one man aided by the general public and will grant great relief to all patients.

Fight Cancer Team Founder and Kadijah Foundation President M. S. H. Mohamed said: “We are expecting a crowd of over 2,000 participants and hope that everyone will join us, as it is the people who contributed towards making this a possibility. This is a machine for the people and pride for the nation.”

According to National Cancer Control Program statistics, over the years the number of cancer patients has risen greatly in Sri Lanka. While 5,012 cases were reported in 1985, a total of 13,372 were reported in 2005; 16,888 patients were reported in 2009 and the number of cases rose to 16,963 in 2010. The PET scanner is used to observe the metabolic processes in the body by detecting pairs of gamma rays emitted indirectly by a positron-emitting radionuclide (tracer), introduced into the body in a biologically active molecule. 

Apart from cancer detection, PET scanners can also detect heart problems, brain disorders and problems related to the central nervous system. However, the available equipment is either inadequate or too costly, which denies access to most people in the country.

This Siemens high tech machine having the capacity to perform over 100 scans per month will be used for patients free of charge and will immensely contribute towards lessening the distress that cancer patients commonly undergo due to the limitation of treatment in the country.

Mohamed stated that there would be a blood donation campaign on 11March from 7:30 a.m. to 5p.m. at the Apeksha Cancer Hospital with the opening of the hospital’s new blood bank building, adding, “We ask for the support of all to make this event a success.”