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Reduce cancer risk with early detection, healthy choices – CARPHA urges
Cancer is the second leading cause of death in the Caribbean Region. However, a significant number of cancer deaths can largely be reduced and prevented through many strategies, including primary prevention, early detection, management, and treatment of patients with cancer.
This state of affairs was yesterday underscored by the Caribbean Public Health Agency [CARPHA] even as World Cancer Day [February 4] was observed.
“Nearly one-half of cancers are preventable or treatable if detected early. Cervical cancer, one of the most common cancers among women in the Caribbean, remains a significant public health problem. A study in which CARPHA was involved, revealed that cervical cancer accounted for 4.5 percent – 18.2 percent of cancer deaths in the English- and Dutch-speaking Caribbean,” stated Dr. Glennis Andall-Brereton, Epidemiologist/Senior Technical Officer, Non-Communicable Diseases at CARPHA.
CARPHA has found that breast and cervical cancer are the leading causes of cancer deaths in women and have a significant negative societal impact in the Region. It has noted too that among Caribbean men, prostate cancer is the most common cause of cancer deaths, with lung cancer being second.
Moreover, CARPHA has found that vaccination and screening programmes are effective interventions to reduce the burden of specific types of cancer. Research, it noted, shows that cervical cancer deaths are two to nine times higher in the English- and Dutch-speaking Caribbean compared to the United States.
CARPHA has underscored that “The number of deaths from cervical cancer is very concerning, because this is the only cancer, which is preventable through screening, early detection, treatment and vaccination against the human papillomavirus (HPV).”
A 2017 study highlighted the suitability and need for accelerated implementation of the 9-valent HPV vaccine for the prevention of cervical cancer in the Caribbean. The 9-valent HPV vaccine is a recombinant vaccine against infection with HPV-6, 11, 16, 18, 31, 33, 45, 52 and 58.
The theme for World Cancer Day 2019, “I Am and I Will” calls for personal commitment to help reduce the global burden of cancer, since it has been recognised that the fight to re
CARPHA’s Dr. Glennis Andall-Brereton
duce cancer deaths cannot be achieved in isolation.
It was with this in mind that CARPHA yesterday joined its Member States and the rest of the world to unite to make cancer prevention a health priority, since everyone can help reduce the burden of cancer if they take responsibility for their own health.
A person’s risk of developing cancer can be substantially reduced through the adoption of healthy lifestyles and the practice of appropriate health-seeking behaviours, CARPHA has noted, adding “Adopting healthy lifestyle choices can go a long way toward reducing cancer risks and the associated personal and financial costs.”
Prevention measures, it said, include avoiding the use of tobacco, limiting alcohol use, keeping a healthy weight, being physically active, and eating a diet rich in fruits and vegetables.
Added to this, CARPHA said that participation in screening programmes is strongly encouraged for the prevention of cervical cancer and early detection of breast, colon and rectal cancer, and being vaccinated against Hepatitis B and HPV.
In observance of World Cancer Day, CARPHA amplified its recommitment to working with key partners to reduce the burden of cancer in the Region.
In 2018, CARPHA became the International Agency for Research on Cancer (IARC)’s Cancer Registry Hub for the Caribbean, which is working to strengthen cancer surveillance by building capacity for cancer registration in the Region to provide reliable information for improving planning for cancer prevention and control.
The Agency is partnering with CARICOM agencies and international institutions to impact trade agreements and influence the availability and access to healthy foods to support the prevention of non-communicable diseases, including cancer.
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