Cancer Society planning investigations to detect persons affected by oral contraceptives

Fr. Cuffy, PRO of the Cancer Society

Public Relations Officer of the Dominica Cancer Society Father Franklyn Cuffy is hoping to rally cancer patients on the island to seek justice for those who may have developed cancer as a result of extensive use of oral contraceptives.

Cuffy, who has been very critical of the Dominica Planned Parenthood Association, said the Cancer Society is very concerned about the circulation of oral contraceptives in Dominica.

“We need to look at that seriously… just as people put up cases to make the companies pay I am hoping we can have a class case for those distributing it. We are hoping to make the companies an example,” he said.

Over the last 15 years, various studies examining the use of oral contraceptives as a risk factor of breast cancer have produced inconsistent results.

In fact, while most have found no overall increase risk for breast cancer associated with oral contraceptives use, in June 1995 investigators at the National Cancer Institute reported risks for breast cancer associated with developing breast cancer among women under the age of 35, who have used birth control pills for at least  six months, compared to those who had never used them.

“We will, at the end of our campaign do our investigations and find out who are the cancer survivors who may have been using OC s. The research is there and it’s the survivors who need to realize that they have been affected by the OC’s. I hope we can do the research in Dominica by ourselves,” Cuffy said.

Copyright 2012 Dominica News Online, DURAVISION INC. All Rights Reserved. This material may not be published, broadcast, rewritten or distributed.

Disclaimer: The comments posted do not necessarily reflect the views of DominicaNewsOnline.com and its parent company or any individual staff member. All comments are posted subject to approval by DominicaNewsOnline.com. We never censor based on political or ideological points of view, but we do try to maintain a sensible balance between free speech and responsible moderating.

We will delete comments that:

  • contain any material which violates or infringes the rights of any person, are defamatory or harassing or are purely ad hominem attacks
  • a reasonable person would consider abusive or profane
  • contain material which violates or encourages others to violate any applicable law
  • promote prejudice or prejudicial hatred of any kind
  • refer to people arrested or charged with a crime as though they had been found guilty
  • contain links to "chain letters", pornographic or obscene movies or graphic images
  • are off-topic and/or excessively long

See our full comment/user policy/agreement.

20 Comments

  1. renn
    February 19, 2010

    As a woman , I find the priest statement ridiculous. He has a medical degree nah. I will not make 19 children like theDuggers the peopleon TV. Some people priest or whoever just like to spread false information. He want people to make children like tee-tee we. Not me papa. So Mr. priest you are not the Holy grail of information and let people that know the real struggle make informed choice and stop acting like a quake docter. You want me not to take birth control and let go children like a set of saucepan. You would laugh eh.

  2. you made me stop going to church
    February 19, 2010

    I cannot believe this. As a catholic i am sometimes confounded by my church’s teachings. Would the church rather you bring a child into the world that cannot be fed? I know of a child who is wanted by neither father nor mother. She lives with an extended family of sorts and is suffering from serious neglect. The child has never felt any love with either parent. She is acting out as a result which is causing the grandparents much stress. Is this better Father Cuffy? Is it right father cuffy that the church should be telling african about the ills of condoms when africa has the highest rate of HIV? Would you rather they all got the disease and died?
    Will the vatican support the children who would be born though “unwanted”
    Please father cuffy. let a woman make her own decision. The church cannot in this day and age tell me what to do with my body.

  3. Dr Geoffrey Lafond
    February 19, 2010

    Dear DNO

    Whilst I laud The Dominica Cancer Society and Father Cuffy”s effort with regards to cancer research, i dont think thats the wya to go in finding a link between breast cancer and the combined oral contraceptive pill.
    Maybe they can do some trials(double blinded preferably) that may assist them in coming to a conclusion re the pill and breats cancer.
    There maybe other confounding that may make your present assertion very wrong.
    An example the the high consumption of chicken in Dominica that have been fed with high doses of hormones. That has been something that has always concerned me.The chicken obtained in Dominica though very big has a high fat content when compared toother Caribbean countries.Look at the number of primary school girls who develop breast and so on.
    So, the cancer society should first work on a finding out before starting form a conclusion.

    Thank you

  4. me myself
    February 19, 2010

    i find this issue to be ridiculous. Oral contraceptives are not the only medication linked to risks of cancer. Every chemical we put in our body causes us to be at risk. The man just wants to make this a catholic issue, because catholics do not support oral contraception. But they support fornication and adultery and homosexuality though! Why isn’t he addressing the root of the problem, how many of his parishioners are promiscuous and contracting diseases and making children to see mizeh. Instead of attaching Planned Parenthood why isn’t he telling his parishioners to abstain? Why isn’t he addressing how many homosexuals in the place because they were molested by priests!

  5. papa oy
    February 19, 2010

    ive know of mny ppl who get pregnant while breastfeeding

  6. papa oy
    February 19, 2010

    but where all u getting day science n saying breastfeeding prevents pregnancy…my gosh…..lol

  7. contraceptive!
    February 19, 2010

    so pookey what is d breast problem? yow choops taking contraceptives is a CHOICE?!a money all u want to make…i doe think planned parenthood forcing allu….

  8. H
    February 19, 2010

    Don’t Ignore the Birth Control Factor
    Remember that hormonal contraceptives slightly increase the risk of blood clots, so if you’ve ever had one, make sure to discuss it with your doctor before going on birth control. And if you’re currently a smoker, don’t take oral contraceptives, because the combo can be especially dangerous, says Sharonne N. Hayes, MD, director of the Women’s Heart Clinic at Mayo Clinic in Rochester, Minnesota.

    http://health.yahoo.com/featured/82/protect-your-heart-at-every-age/

    More evidence in support of Father Cuffy,,,, People.. stop making this a religious issue. Stop thinking inside a box. Thanks Father Cuffy,,,,, no Prophet is accepted by his own people.

  9. DASHEEN
    February 19, 2010

    WELL SAID WESLEYMAN……..THANKS FOR PPA FOR SUPPLYING ME WITH MY CHICKEN FEED OVER THE YEARS ………….BESIDES THEY ARE NOT THE ONLY ONES SUPPLYING IT SO WHY ATTACK THEM ………….U MAY HAVE A PONIT BUT WE NEED TO PROTECT OURSELVES

  10. Vieille Case Itassian
    February 19, 2010

    While there may- (and I say may)- be an association between oral contraceptives and breast cancer, research has provided only inconclusive evidence of that association. If Fr Cuffy’s real concern is health then I would in no way discourage say go on but as far as I know the Catholic church which he represents has opposed oral contraceptive as a purely religious matter because of the opposition of birth control. So infact Fr. Cuffy is using the cancer issue to cover up his true religious motive.

    The church has also opposed condom use among teens, purporting that such use will promote promiscuity. But with the rapid spread of HIV/AIDS who knows how many persons may have been protected against infection? And with the critical opposition that he has for the DPPA, has he seen what are some of the effects of uncontrolled birth has done to Haiti in the aftermath of the earthquake? In addition, in those hard economic times, it makes sense for families to limit their family sizes so that their limited financial resources can sustain their family’s food, shelter, clothiong and education needs.

    Cuffy, is critical of the Dominica Planned Parenthood Association because he sees the association as a challenge to the church’s theology. His words “We are hoping to make the companies an example” only refers to the DPPA. Of those companies why doesn’t he hope for a class case against the companies who actually manufacture the contraceptives? The DDPA is using drugs that have been tested and certified before they get to the market. If those contraceptives had been incriminated in breast cancer, the US populace that have law suit running in their veins would already have has a major class action suit. None has been brought against the Planned Parenthood in the US.

    Smoking (tobacco) is a greater killer than all the contraceptives put together, why doesn’t FR Cuffy and the church go on a mass campaign to educate people about the effects of smoking and or why haven’t he tried to bring a class suit against all the big distributors of the deadly cigarettes?

    Nontheless, I advise all women to listen to thier personal physician and obtain as much information as possible about any contraceptives they use or plan to use, educate yourselves about any side effect of the oral contraceptives and inquire about other alternative contraceptives.

    When women have so many children that they have to stay hungry to feed them, how many of those children will Fr Cuffy feed for them? Women and young ladies ask yourself this question.

  11. Fair & Square
    February 19, 2010

    The intent is good; but, that’s a tall order wee Fr. Cuffy. There are many variables to consider; before this local research data can be considered empirical. I’m all for accountability and I wish you the best in this undertaking.

    @ Hmmmp and the others……I don’t see anywhere that the priest encouraged persons to have children irresponsibly. From what I understand, the church does support family planning; except that the planning ought to be done by natural methods (safe period etc.).

    @ Bratt…how you mean Fr. Cuffy needs to find something better to do with his time? De man is doing his job as a leader in society; ie. to speak on matters which concern the community.

    Zor pas feb papa………doh talk allu saying de priests & church staying mute….talk, allu saying something else. I say talk Fr. Cuffy !

  12. CHAMER
    February 19, 2010

    i see bratt thomas as a big fool . dont be critical of persons who are trying to help others .

  13. Harox
    February 19, 2010

    Well, well, well. My mind goes back to the old too familiar song, “What a friend we have in Jesus” Has this priest taken his problem to the Lord in prayer? If not he needs to, in order to find solace.

    Two questions for the priest? Are men users of Oral contraceptives? Do Nuns, these special people in his congregation, use Oral contraceptives? Yet, both groups of people get cancer and cancer of the reproductive systems at that. Men get Prostate Cancer, the Nuns get Breast Cancer, Ovarian Cancer among others.

    Besides, Father Priest, I know of many women, very prominent women in the Catholic Church too, some have died and some are very much alive, who have never used contraceptives and still do not use them, yet they have had their breast removed and are still being treated for Breast Cancer.

    It is good to educate the people. But please! be factual. By the way, didn’t that same report or one of the reports state that OCs also help some people who are at risk of certain types of cancer?

    Stop creating dirty linen for DPPA and bring out those obvious dirty linen in your cupboard.

  14. Hey
    February 19, 2010

    Have you people ever heard of Natural Family Planning? When will you stop thinking inside a box? The evidence is there for you to see and you diverting from the points – about being annoyed by the Priest.

    My people,,, think like the outside(developed) world thinks.Stop being so immature and evaluate things constructively. I Pray that our peope one day will grow!

  15. A true dominica in the u.s.a
    February 19, 2010

    Father Cuffy may have a point people. In the days of our parents, we did not even know what cancer was. Before we start bashing him we must realize that oral contraceptives are foreign to the body and prevent the natural conception of a child. Have we seen God commanding us to use these pills? he said to be fruitful and multiply, and replinish the earth. We must realize the dangers that we bring upon our bodies by what we ingest and consume. It seems like we have almost forgotten everything about being natural and have welcomed with open arms everything that is unnatural. Fast food, pills etc., We need to be careful by not following the footsteps of these so-called developed countries and use the natural resources that God has blessed us with. Don’t we realize that we are faced more than ever before with ilnesses and diseases that our forefathers never had? We need to have a different mindset and stop wanting to be like every other country.

    I believe that there are natural ways of preventing pregnancy and one way is by breastfeeding. Also when a woman ovulates she should avoid any sexual engagement.

    I believe that the use of condoms is safer than taking oral contraceptives. They may be uncomfortable but I trust them more than taking a pill.

    Our women need to continue breastfeeding thier babies as long as the babies desire, or wean themslves.

  16. wesleyman
    February 19, 2010

    “Father” Cuffy needs to understand that Dominica is not a catholic state, If he cannot convince his parishoners not to use contraceptives, ha cannot strong arm a voluntary agency into stop providing a service that people deem necessary to continue their quality of life. Abortion I am against, but how can you say to a married couple, take the chance that everytime you are able to get pregnant, you can.. Just look at places like Haiti, Guatamala and mexico where the catholic church has been able to brain wash these people into not using contraceptives, the result is poverty and the inability to care for and educate their children. “Father ” Cuffy do you think thats the will of God to have these hungry, uneducated children, becuase the catholic church is anti contraception? Lets make the issue relavent, abortion is wrong, contraception does not destroy life.

  17. poonkey
    February 19, 2010

    what the preist is saying it the truth. You are to rude Bratt. Because of him I know I have a problem in my breast. Educate yourselves. He is trying to help your mum, sis, aunt…stop being negative. Take good advice.

  18. Student
    February 19, 2010

    Is the church willing to support all those who can’t afford to raise children? I would like the reporters to ask Fr. Cuffy this question.

  19. Bratt Thomas
    February 19, 2010

    Cuffy needs to seriously find soething better to do with his time. You are really starting to get annoying now dude.

  20. hmmmp
    February 18, 2010

    when them ppl just dere making children..will be willing to take them in father? what is this about choops..in my opinion nonsense..i think its the person in the heat that knows the fire why make a 10000 children and u cannot feed them and i no what i am saying..choops ure own catholics find u wired..yes father!

Post a Comment

Your email address will not be published. Required fields are marked *

:) :-D :wink: :( 8-O :lol: :-| :cry: 8) :-? :-P :-x :?: :oops: :twisted: :mrgreen: more »

 characters available