UKZN, Yale partners in cancer detection programme
A senior researcher and physician says amongst patients in KwaZulu-Natal, head and neck cancer is still not detected early enough.
Yale University's Dr. Zachary Porterfield has been speaking in light of a symposium that has taken place at the UKZN's medical school campus yesterday.
The event stems from a partnership formed with the Yale University in 2015 to address public health issues in the province.
This year's event highlighted early detection and treatment of cancer in the field of otolaryngology - which covers the ear, nose, and throat.
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"We're working with GPs and sisters across the province to teach the exam skills and interview skills, questions to ask to help identify patients that might need to be evaluated more closely for possible head and neck cancer so that we detect these things early and get patients and South Africans to treatment much earlier on, " Dr. Porterfield said.
Working closely with nurses and general practitioners in the public health sector, the newly launched programme will include peer-to-peer teaching and training with experts from both institutions.