BASSETERRE, St. Kitts – AS the Federation joins the rest of the world in commemorating World Cancer Day (Feb. 4), the Ministry of Health has reported that the number of new cases of the disease has risen over the past five years.
According to Chief Medical Officer (CMO) Dr. Patrick Martin, the total number of new incidences for the 2004-2009 period was 299, with an average annual rate of 60 cases or approximately 17 per 10 000 persons in St. Kitts.
Females were the more likely of the two genders to attract the disease – there were 224 new cases in women, amounting to an average annual rate of 43, while there were only 75 new cases in men, an average annual rate of 15.
The most common cancers in females are breast (75), cervix (63), uterus (17), colon (16) and skin (11). For males, prostate (18) is the most frequent type of disease, followed by colon (17) and skin (14).
Colon is the leading type of new cancer cases experienced by both sexes in St. Kitts (33), with skin cancer (25) coming in second.
“The Ministry of Health joins the International Union against Cancer (UICC) in commemorating World Cancer Day,” said Martin. “This observance is aimed at raising public awareness about cancer to encourage prevention, early detection and effective treatment.
“Since the disease profile of the Federation is dominated by chronic non-communicable conditions including cancer, the prevention and control of cancer is a priority to the national health system. Cancer detection services such as pap smears, mammography and colon endoscopy are routinely available in the Federation. Simple measures such as breast self-examinations are taught in health centres and private doctor offices.”
Although cancer treatment services such as radiation and chemotherapy are not available locally, Martin reminded that they could be accessed in the region and beyond.
The CMO stressed that the ministry’s prevention-oriented approach requires involvement by all actors in society, and cited the rising costs of technology healthcare and the Federation’s inability to negotiate quantity discounts as two difficulties that health officials had encountered.
He however assured that the health ministries on both islands would continue to plan and allocate resources to make diagnostic and treatment services available to all residents, regardless of their income status.
Meanwhile, Martin said that the “clear and compelling” evidence from global research has shown that cancer cases could be reduced through healthier lifestyles. He warned that the local consumption of processed food and alcohol was too high, leading to a dangerous rate of child and adult obesity.
“A lifestyle based on good nutrition and regular exercise protects against cancers as well as diabetes, hypertension and heart disease. The ministry will ensure that persons are provided with the knowledge and skills to choose and adopt healthier habits, and to detect medical problems at an early stage.”
Martin also pointed to immunisation as an effective prevention method, revealing that the ministry offered free Hepatitis B vaccinations and was looking to introduce the Human Papilloma Virus (HPV). The Hepatitis B virus and the HPV are the causes of liver cancer and cervical cancer, respectively.
World Cancer Day has been commemorated by the UICC since 2006. The 2010 theme is “learn about vaccines against viruses that cause cancers”.
