Saving lives through early Detection:
By KARAN MINNIS, Guardian Lifestyles Reporter -
Nassau, Bahamas:


Almost every Bahamian has had at least one family member affected by cancer, or at least knows of someone afflicted with the disease, as it is all too common. But every October people around the world — no matter their race, color or creed —stop to reflect on this fact.

Anyone can be diagnosed with the dreaded disease at anytime. Cancer is not selective. But for people battling the disease, support from family, friends, and even people they don't know is important.

And it's for this reason, that the Cancer Society of The Bahamas, a registered, non-profit organization, was established in the Commonwealth of The Bahamas in 1976.

The founder, Mrs. Susan Roberts, formed a group of concerned friends and acquaintances who became the first directors of the society. With the energy and dedication of the volunteers, funds were raised which enabled literature to be purchased, supplies and equipment were amassed so that consciousness-raising activities could be developed to educate the community on the importance of early detection, healthy life styles, cutting out smoking and other related topics.

The Cancer Society offers education, health care, counselling and support. From its formation in 1976 until 1986, cancer patients were able to apply for financial assistance from the society if medical treatment was needed abroad. However, in 1986, due to the exorbitant medical costs involved, a policy decision was made to discontinue financial assistance to individual patients and instead channel funds towards improving equipment and facilities for cancer detection and treatment at the Princess Margaret Hospital, as well as to intensify public educational programmes about cancer.

The society has since made several donations: a fibreopticbronchoscope, a mammogram machine, a protective hood and apparatus for the safe mixing of chemotherapy drugs, and a port-a-cath implant systems for chemotherapy patients.

In 1991, the society furnished and equipped a modern Oncology Unit on the grounds of the Princess Margaret Hospital for the purpose of administering chemotherapy treatments.

The Cancer Society is composed of a 12-member board of directors and four life directors, an executive committee comprised of a president, vice-president, treasurer and secretary. Committees for membership, fundraising, hospice, visitation, education, pap smear, support group, publicity building, and Family Island and general membership are open to the public.

Branch offices, each with their own Executive Committee, are located in Governor's Harbour, Eleuthera (established in 1985), Freeport, Grand Bahama (established in 1986) and Marsh Harbour, Abaco (established in 1990).

Cancer Society members function solely on a volunteer basis in the areas of education, health care, counselling and fundraising.

In May, 1991, the Cancer Society officially opened its Central Headquarters and Resource Centre on East Terrace, Centreville.

In February 1990, the Society, in conjunction with the Ministry of Health launched a national pap smear and breast screening campaign throughout The Bahamas as a method of prevention and early detection, and to compile statistics of these cancers. Each month a team of volunteer doctors and nurses visit the Family Islands to carry out pap smears and prostate cancer screenings.


12 KEYS TO REDUCING THE RISK OF CANCER

* Ask yourself what changes you need to make in your life in order to be healthier and feel better.

* Learn how to make those changes: overcome resistance and take action.

* Early detection is the best protection.

* Achieve a healthier diet without feeling deprived.

* Add exercise to your life.

* Smoking is suicide.

* Cut out or down on alcohol.

* Guard against environmental hazards.

* Stay out of the sun or wear sunblock.

* Set priorities — strive for balance in your life.

* Reduce stress.

* Do whatever you can to increase your sense of control.

THE CANCER SOCIETY'S OBJECTIVES

* To provide emotional, psychological and moral support to patients and their families.

* To serve as patient advocates ensuring the availability of appropriate, quality service at an affordable cost.

* To prevent the onset of cancers by reducing individual risks through educational and awareness activities.

* In the event, that a patient's cancer can't be prevented, they make it possible to have it diagnosed at its earliest stage, so as to enhance patient survivability.

* And to raise fund for support programs.

Cancer is a disease in which cells multiply without control, destroying healthy tissue and endangering life. It strikes people of all ages and is a disease that can attack any part of the body. But in many cases, cancer can be prevented if a known agent is avoided or eliminated. Simply put the elimination of cigarette smoking, for example, would prevent most cases of lung cancer, according to reports from the Cancer Society of The Bahamas.

But without proper treatment, all cancers are fatal and today about a third of all persons treated for cancer recover completely or live much longer that they would have lived without treatment.

And early detection greatly increases the chances of a cure. Unfortunately in many cases the doctor is consulted only after the disease is far advanced. For this reason, cancer-related check-ups are very important, and treatments can be complicated.

There are three main methods to treat cancer patients — surgery, radiation therapy, and drug therapy or chemotherapy. But in many cases, treatment consists of two or all three of these methods, a procedure called combination therapy.

THE IMPORTANCE OF DIET

A healthy, well-balanced diet can cut your cancer risk.

You are encouraged to take a look at your plate and check to see if it is filled with generous portions of fruits, vegetables and grains. If not, slice ripe mango, bananas and/or berries on your whole grain cereal in the morning, add a variety of vegetables to your salads for good health, such as red cabbage, ripe tomatoes, shredded carrots, chickpeas, kidney beans, broccoli and avocados, and try new produce items with each trip to the food store, like yams, leeks, kale and egg plant.

You're encouraged to use whole wheat flour in recipes, refrigerate foods quickly to prevent spoilage, and instead of alcohol, enjoy a refreshing mix of fruit juice and sparkling water. They also advise that you cut down on portions of meat and poultry, cut down on fat ... remove skin from poultry and use only a little oil in cooking.

Instead of salt, experiment with herbs and spices such as rosemary, oregano, basil, turmeric, chives, Italian herbs, garlic or onion powder, and to barbecue only occasionally and do not eat charred food.

Oct 22, 2007