THERE ARE TWICE as many women living with malignant cancer, than there are men.
This was highlighted by Minister of Health Donville Inniss as he delivered a 2009 report on cancer, care and treatment in the Radiology Department at the Queen Elizabeth Hospital. The minister highlighted the statistics yesterday, during an appreciation address at a presentation and reception at the Barbados Cancer Society, Henry’s Lane, Collymore Rock headquarters, diagnostic and services centre.
The six leading malignancies ranked in order are: breast, colon, head and neck, endometrium, prostate and cervix. Malignacies by age group seen in the department are: 22 per cent 70-79 and 50-59, 20 per cent in the 60-69 and 40-49 age groups, and 80 per cent in the 30’s. Outpatients included 7100 and new referrals were 465 000.
“At the QEH we too have to avoid resting on our laurels and strive to make improvements in our cancer detection and treatment programmes. Our aim must be to have the latest in technology and also the best possible skills in the form of human resource to attend to patients. And of course, to provide the most comfortable and comforting environment to patients and their caregivers.”
Inniss pointed out that given that 40 per cent of all cancer deaths could be prevented with early detection and treatment, the Ministry of Health was working assiduously towards its cancer control programme involving prevention, early prevention, diagnosis and treatment and palliative care which the World Health Organisation advocated. (AH)
