A BIG increase in the number of patients at Basingstoke hospital suffering from asbestos-related lung cancer is expected by doctors, a consultant has warned.
Dr Kevin McKinlay told directors at Basingstoke hospital that past exposure to the deadly substance used in construction and engineering was now beginning to show up in clinics.
He said: "We are expecting an epidemic over the next 10 years because of asbestos exposure. There is a lag-time of about 25 to 30 years so there is a statistical hump of people coming through.
"We see a lot in this area because we have a number of ex-service people and those who have worked in dockyards, AWRE and so on."
Dr McKinlay was asking the board of directors to agree to the appointment of a medical oncologist to treat lung and gastro-intestinal cancer patients with chemotherapy.
He also warned that more younger women were now developing lethal cancers because of smoking, although overall non asbestos-related lung cancer numbers were stable.
He said: "This tranche of ladies is now presenting with aggressive tumours in their early 40s and 50s."
The meeting heard how the appointment of a new medical oncologist had been approved in the past but there was not enough money to fund it.
Director of nursing Donna Green said a high-grade cancer unit would not now be able to continue without it.
Dr McKinlay said there had been real advances in chemotherapy, which meant more could be done for many patients.
Directors approved the medical oncologist appointment which will be shared with Southampton University Hospitals Trust -meaning the new specialist will spend part of his or her time there.
Chemotherapy is currently supervised by three consultant clinical oncologists from Southampton, who will continue to come to Basingstoke.
The new specialist will be able to treat patients in a new dedicated £400,000 oncology unit, for which the Wessex Cancer Trust is continuing to raise money through its Brighter Days appeal.
Dr McKinlay said it was better that such a very ill set of people, such as those with aggressive lung tumours, did not have to go to Southampton for chemotherapy.
He explained: "It adds to the pain of an already painful illness. Being able to treat these patients locally will be a considerable improvement."
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