Addressing breast cancer high on Health Ministry’s agenda - Dr Ramsammy

Addressing breast cancer high on Health Ministry’s agenda – Dr Ramsammy

Oct 12, 2010 News

Guyana records between 70 and 80 cases of breast cancer on an annual basis, a situation which remains of concern to the Ministry of Health, according to Minister of Health, Dr Leslie Ramsammy.
Breast cancer, he said, is the number one cancer which affects women. It ranks closely with cervical cancer, thus the need to elevate awareness programmes, the Minister added.
Breast cancer (malignant breast neoplasm) is cancer originating from breast tissue, most commonly from the inner lining of milk ducts or the lobules that supply the ducts with milk. Prognosis and survival rate vary greatly depending on cancer type and staging.
With best treatment and dependent on staging, 10-year disease-free survival varies from 98 percent to 10 percent. Worldwide, breast cancer comprises 10.4 percent of all cancer incidence among women, making it the most common type of non-skin cancer in women and the fifth most common cause of cancer death.
In 2004, breast cancer caused 519,000 deaths worldwide (seven percent of cancer deaths; almost 1 percent of all deaths). Breast cancer is about 100 times more common in women than in men, males tend to have poorer outcomes due to delays in diagnosis.
And awareness efforts will be amplified this month locally which is designated breast cancer awareness month. “Mainly we work with the AVON Group to promote awareness but we are also training people across the country in self-breast examination,” the Minister revealed yesterday.
And given the importance of self-breast examination, he disclosed that it is the desire of the Ministry to make this practice a part of parenting so that all young girls could be encouraged to examine their own breasts.
But according to the Minister, he is still not satisfied that the Ministry has not been able to train enough people at a fast enough pace. “I am still not satisfied that the health centres are actually including breast examination in a way that would ensure that every young woman gets access….Those are the things we will try to do this year.”
In this regard, Minister Ramsammy said that mammography is one important move that the Ministry intends to utilise to help address the problem. Dr Ramsammy asserted that although mammograms are not readily accepted and utilised by some countries, he is confident that the move is necessary.
“Even in America they concede that every woman above 50 should have mammograms…So I am still working on that universally,” he asserted.
But even though self-breast examination is seen as essential, Minister Ramsammy revealed that scientific evidence have started to surface which suggest that there are other markers that can detect whether a woman is at high risk for breast cancer.
Nonetheless, he noted that there is an ever growing need for women to become more aware, adding that “without a doubt early diagnosis of breast cancer can lead to good outcome…So cancer does not have to be a death sentence but you must catch it early.”
And in addressing the issue of breast cancer, the Minister said that the Ministry is also looking at the areas of radiotherapy. According to the Minister, he has been in discussion with radiotherapy experts as he is confident that while Guyana has had good technology there is now improved technology available.
Also, the availability of chemotherapy locally is being considered Minister Ramsammy said. “Chemotherapy is very expensive but we need to provide chemotherapy to our people and that is what I am working on right now,” Minister Ramsammy added.

Latest News

Addressing breast cancer high on Health Ministry’s agenda – Dr Ramsammy

Related

Similar Articles

The Glenn Lall Show | February, 3rd, 2025

Follow on Tik Tok @Glennlall

THE BLUNT OF THE DAY

Sports

EBDCA/D&R Construction 40-Over Cricket Competition continues

GFF announces final squad for Concacaf U-17...

Cricket West Indies announces exciting 2025...

BCA, GCB to attend CWI meeting on February 9

Bolstered Harpy Eagles eyeing perfect home record...

Hockey PAHF Junior Challenge schedule released

Features/Columnists

Land, taxes and penalties

OAS Secretary General Election and renewed OAS Consensus

Helping a brother traveling against traffic

Publisher’s Note

Weekend Cartoon

Bridge Watch

Demerara Harbour Bridge

> Berbice Bridge […]

Addressing breast cancer high on Health Ministry’s agenda – Dr Ramsammy

Share this:

Related

Similar Articles

The Glenn Lall Show | February, 3rd, 2025

Follow on Tik Tok @Glennlall

THE BLUNT OF THE DAY

Sports

Features/Columnists

Publisher’s Note

Weekend Cartoon

Bridge Watch

Demerara Harbour Bridge

> Berbice Bridge […]