The issue of Cancer is a topic that may never grow old because it is one of the leading causes of death in the world.
The Dominica Cancer Society (DCS) vows to continue to play its part in raising awareness of the various forms of cancer affecting both men and women in Dominica.
President of the DCS Yvonne Alexander reiterated calls on Friday for men as well as women to conduct examinations as early prevention methods.
She was specific that pap smears and breast self-examinations should be conducted to detect any abnormality.
“We really want to encourage a culture and a lifestyle of people getting screened annually especially if you know you are at high risk,” she said.
Saying, “you can be at high risk if there is a family history…you can be at high risk depending on your lifestyle, if you are a person who eats a lot of junk you cannot say when was the last time you had a serving of fruit or vegetables…”
Alexander was a guest on the state-owned radio station DBS where she also used the opportunity to lament the need for adopting healthy lifestyles, proper nutrition and regular physical activity all this can reduce the incident of cancer of the cervix.
She also insisted that breast self-examination should be done at least every month after a woman’s menstruation cycle.
“Do it every month about the same time of the month. If it is about a week or two after your period,” she encouraged. “You become very familiar with the lumps in your breasts…you will feel the difference.”
Women are far more greatly affected by breast cancer in terms of sheer numbers, but they aren’t the only ones at risk of developing breast cancer according to Yvonne.
“We have had a few men in Dominica detected with breast cancer. For many of them it was early detection,” she said.
Meantime, Alexander said World Cancer Day will be celebrated on Tuesday 4th February 2020 under the theme: “I can and I will.”
A special Mass will be held at the Portsmouth Catholic Church this [Sunday 2nd February] from 8:00am will official kick start the activities.
Following Mass there will be a meet and greet for cancer survivors in the north.
“We will meet in the church hall immediately after the Mass and one of the things we want to do is we want to do a lot more outreach in the north of the island,” she said
The formation of a cancer support group in the north is also on the cards, according to Alexander, who believes that such a group “is very important”.
Again i ask, with all the research and testing and valuable data on cannabis as a viable treatment for cancer, what is the Cancer Society’s views on the use of cannabis as a natural treatment for cancer? Has the Cancer society considered or already approached the government and the medical board to discuss using cannabis for medicinal (oils, tinctures, creams, teas etc) to fight against cancer in its early detection stages? I know of a young lady who used tinctures to fight her small brain tumor recently. no chemo needed. It can also provide relief for patients in their end stages. I mean the data and information is all there if we really want to fight cancer. I dont want to say that cancer is also big business in dominica where many profit from it. however, if we really want to fight it, we have to stop doing the same things and think outside the box. read the info, look at the date, get second opinions and make wise decisions.
Very good point. Those doctorsvknow that kemo kills the cancer patient. I know one whosenfamily member has cancer and not for hell he made her take any meds from the pharmacy and her healing was natural. And mark you thise doctors whennthey sick is bush doctor. So please stop help to kill our cancer patients.. de molasses and baking soda does a great job also de marijuana oil it is time they stop sending people to die.
I am inclined to think that if there is no cancer, the Cancer Society will be useless and will not recieve any money. Just like how Big Pharma doesnt want to sell drugs the cure but only treat to keep you coming back. with the kind of people on the board of the society, i would absolutely hope this is not the case.
What i am more inclined to believe is that the majority of their board directors are older conservative, law abiding, religious women. Mrs alexander herself is/was a top police officer. As a result they have absolutely no inclination to even consider this, based on fear and prejudice of the misinformation they have believed for decades. To them the only solution is to go docot and do your radiology. After try and get back normal. so it always is so it have to be done. smh. Poor the youth of our nation.
The “BIG C” is definitely not a respecter of person. Nearly everyone of us knows a family member, friend or coworker who has been stricken by this multi-dimensional “dis-ease”.
Whether through environmental factors, hereditary markers, lifestyle choices or just bad luck and unfortunate happenstance, the contraction of cancer and its devastating impact on body, mind and soul is nothing soft.
No one should have to face this major health battle alone. A good and informed support system and full compliance with prescribed medical plans can be invaluable in helping a cancer patient deal with the ups and downs on the hopeful road to recovery.
Though significant gains have been made in cancer treatment, there is still long way to go before its devastation is reeled in.