CHARLESTOWN, Nevis - WOMEN on Nevis have been adhering to calls for them to be screened for breast cancer, and that call has resulted in a number of them being recommended for secondary tests.
That information was made known by Premier Mark Brantley, who told reporters at his recently held press conference that nearly 400 women on the island took the opportunity to be screened over a six-month period.
A total of 399 women were screened up to the end of December, Brantley disclosed, and among that number some 3.5 percent were referred for further tests because of areas seeming “suspicious” - while the remaining 96.5 percent were cleared.
Brantley noted that though those persons were referred for being suspicious, they were not confirmed to have cancer, but were recommended for further testing.
The Premier and his Cabinet have been imploring more women to get mammograms or screened for breast and other forms of cancer, because of the high rates of diagnosis in the Federation.
The cost for the six-month screening was $79,800.
Brantley used the platform to urge more women, especially those over 40, to consult with their doctors if they were candidates for mammograms service.
“What this does [is] it allows you to know your status. It allows you if there is a difficulty to detect it early and have to deal with it,” Brantley acknowledged.
He lamented that far too many women continue to be afflicted by and are dying from breast cancer.
“I also want to emphasize that we have sought to offer and continue to offer for free pap smears, which is another cancer screening mechanism,” Brantley said.
The Premier also said: “We did for six months last year that it will be free, and then starting this year, January, it will be $200.”
