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Young women urged to undergo tests for early detection of breast cancer
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| Former Speaker of the St. Kitts and Nevis National Assembly, Ms. Marcella Liburd. (Photo by Erasmus Williams) |
| By: Erasmus Williams, CUOPM |
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BASSETERRE, ST. KITTS, OCTOBER 12TH 2009 (CUOPM) – Former Speaker of the St. Kitts and Nevis National Assembly, Miss Marcella Liburd, is calling on young women in St. Kitts and Nevis to undergo regular screening for the early detection of breast cancer.
Speaking at a political meeting of the governing St. Kitts-Nevis Labour Party in the town of Sandy Point on Sunday night, Ms. Liburd disclosed that between 2000 and 2008, some 152 women were diagnosed with breast cancer in the Federation.
She said six cases were between the ages of age 20 and 29; 27 cases between the ages of 30 and 39; 56 cases between the ages of 40 and 49; 31 cases between the ages of 50 and 59; 14 cases between the ages of 60 and 69; 17 cases between the ages of 70 and 79 and 1 case between 80 and 89 years.
“Younger and younger women are being diagnosed with breast cancer and so we can no longer wait until we are in our 40’s to go and check up ourselves. Early detection of breast cancer is the key to saving women’s lives,” said Ms. Liburd, who is seeking to replace outgoing Parliamentarian, Hon. Dwyer Astaphan in the Central Basseterre seat.
She eencouraged women of all ages to participate in activities being held to observe Cancer Awareness Month and invited women to attend an information and entertainment evening on Tuesday the 13th October at the Old Boys School on Victoria Road in Basseterre.
With the World Health Organization (WHO) predicting 1.2 million people worldwide are expected to be diagnosed with breast cancer this year, prevention and regular screening can help yield positive results. As 70 percent of cancers are preventable, early detection and effective treatment have helped in declining mortality rates among women with breast cancer.
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