Anuj ShresthaConsultant Gynaecologic Oncologist, Nepal Cancer Hospital and Research Center, Harissidhhi, Lalitpur, Nepal
IGCS Member since 2017
Initially, I was working as general gynaecologist in medical college as Associate Professor. In the whole country, Nepal only has a few gynaecologic oncologists who work in women's cancer care. Thus, women with gynaecological cancer are still having sub-optimal surgery in most places. Those who can afford it, travel abroad for cancer treatment. Even in an urban city where facilities are available, lots of women are unaware of screening - in remote villages these facilities are not available at all.
I found that unlike other cancers, gynaecological cancer has good survival rate if detected early and treated properly. This is why I choose this field.
I am a full time faculty member in the gynaecologic oncology unit in the Nepal Cancer Hospital. I perform radical hysterectomies, pelvic and paraaortic lyphadenectomies, staging laparotomies with cytoreductive surgery and radical vulvectomies.
Cervical cancer is the first leading cancer among Nepalese women. This is mainly due to lack of knowledge. Currently, I am giving cancer awareness classes regarding cervical cancer screening, the HPV vaccine for high school students, nursing students and different communities within the general population.
I have developed a PAP smear provider course for nurses and trained 30 nurses from our hospital and certified them.
We are conducting free cervical PAP smears and clinical breast examinations in different rural communities of our country. So far, more than five thousand women have been screened. This project was done by the Nepal Cancer Support Group in technical collaboration with the Nepal Cancer Hospital and funded by Direct Relief. More than 80% of women are having a Pap smear for the first time. Three cases of CIN III, one carcinoma of the cervix and one carcinoma of the breast were detected in this camp for whom definite treatment was given, free of cost. All of these camps were conducted with the help of our certified pap smear provider nurses and doctors of our hospital.
Bruno BustosMedical Oncologist, Fernandez Hospital, Buenos Aires, Argentina
IGCS Member Since 2017
I am passionate about gynecological and breast tumors, because they are all different cases, no patient is the same as another. In the hospital, I am fortunate to be able to dedicate my practice solely to attending to patients with gynecological and breast tumors, every day of my life!
Elisa Orlandini S, MDGynecologic Oncologist, Pontificia Universidad Católica de Chile , Santiago, Chile
IGCS Member Since 2017
As a woman I can really relate to women's problems and women's care. In my country, cervical cancer is the leading cause of death in women between 25 and 50 years old. Being able to help and to cure women with good quality surgery and adjuvant treatment is a life motivation for me.
I am staff member of the Gynecologic Oncology team, teaching medical students and gynecology residents. We also have 3 fellows of gynecology oncology who are greatly motivated to learn. We also divide our time on consults, visiting patients at the hospital and the OR as well as providing seminars and classes to students.
Erick Estuardo Estrada ZaldañaAssistant Professor Gynecology and Obstetrics, Hospital General San Juan de Dios, Guatemala City, Guatemala
Member of IGCS since 2013.
It all started in 2010, when I was a first year Obstetrics & Gynecology resident at Hospital General San Juan de Dios in Guatemala City, Guatemala. I had the pleasure of meeting two amazing doctors, Dr. Pedro Ramirez and Dr. Kathleen Schmeler who visited our hospital as part of CONEP (Central America Oncology Education Program), an IGCS sponsored educational program to improve the Gynecologic Oncology training of Obstetrics & Gynecology residents in Central America. Dr. Ramirez and Dr. Schmeler spent a week in Guatemala giving lectures and teaching in the operating room and left a lasting impression on all of us. In 2014, I was a recipient of International Gynecologic Cancer Society (IGCS) Traveling Scholar Award, this provided me the opportunity to apply to go to MD Anderson Cancer Center, as this was something that I truly believe that I could not do it by my own means. After this experience I was determined onto becoming a Gynecology Oncology Fellow, because this experience was a true Eye Opener.
The “Eye Opener” was a thank you letter to IGCS, it was not just the name of the most popular morning coffee from the Cool Beans Cafe located on the second floor from the Duncan Building at the MD Anderson Cancer Center. Instead it describes my experience and the new perspective of the world that I gained during my three-month observership in Houston sponsored by the International Gynecologic Cancer Society (IGCS) traveling scholars program. I was also able to become involved in research projects and was even given my own review paper to write under their direction. They encouraged me to pursue research in my home country, something that I will keep on doing and try to inspire others just like me. Proof of this in 2016, the American Congress of Obstetricians and Gynecologists awarded me, as Mentor of the Year.
Unfortunately, cervical cancer is the number one cause of death among women in Guatemala and the lack of access to health, makes this worst. I work at one of the biggest Public Hospitals in Guatemala, however resources are limited, but our willingness to go an extra mile is enormous. To see women being defeated by something that could have been prevented, it tears my heart. This women don´t just leave behind a family, they are the pillars of society itself. This is one of the reasons that makes me want to keep on pursuing to be a Gynecology Oncologist, I hope next year I will be part of the IGCS Gynecologic Oncology Global Curriculum and Mentorship program.
