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Paidamoyo Chipunza Health Reporter
AN international cancer research and treatment institution has discovered a new cancer drug with lesser side effects, less toxins and effective in treatment of all types of cancers.Addressing representatives of cancer organisations in Harare yesterday, Cancure Clinics chief executive Dr Parminder Kaur said the new drug, chinmanna, has gone through all the required trials and proved to be safe and non-toxic.

The studies were conducted in Taiwan.
“This drug is very safe and non-toxic to use. After realising that it can save lives we thought this drug needs to be exposed further in the world,” said Dr Kaur.

Extracted from medicinal plants, the drug uses a method called cancer immune therapy — which involves stimulating a patient’s immune system to attack cancer cells.

Dr Kaur said this medicine does not destroy health cells unlike other methods of cancer treatment.
“It takes four months to treat cancer cells with this drug and a further two months to prevent the cancer from recurring,” she said.

The drug is currently in use on “compassionate” basis in Europe and India.
Dr Kaur said the lives of patients who have so far used the drug have improved for the better with few side effects noted.

National Cancer Alliance of Zimbabwe executive director Dr Nelson Ngwaru said after hearing the presentation from Cancure clinics, cancer organisations would engage other important stakeholders in the health sector to deliberate on possible introduction of the drug in the country.

“We need to engage with oncologists, doctors and Government officials to further deliberate on this upcoming option that can save lives of our patients,” he said.

The good thing about this option, said Dr Ngwaru, was that it could be prescribed to pre-diagnosed cancers unlike with chemotherapy and radiotherapy which can only be used when the cancer has been fully diagnosed.

According to the Cancer Registry, about 4 000 cases of cancer were reported in 2010 through health institutions.
It is believed majority of cancer cases die unreported owing to late presentation and inadequate diagnostic facilities.