President of the Dominica Cancer Society Yvonne Alexander is expressing concerns at what she says are the alarming statistics relating to cancer deaths in Dominica.
Speaking to journalists on the matter, Alexander stated that she was aware that the Health Promotion Unit of the Ministry of Health has the statistics for the Cancer mortality rate in Dominica for the past five years.
“From my knowledge, I am aware that the rates are increasing in some years showing that more than one hundred persons have died of cancer in some years, and in most cases, sixty to seventy percent are males,” she said.
“The main causes of cancer-related deaths for men are prostate, hence for September, the Dominica Cancer Society will be doing some promotion again of “prostate cancer awareness month,” and raising awareness about cancer. We are aware, that some of the individuals who have died of cancer-related illnesses, die within months of diagnosis and this speaks of “late detection.”
She stated that the Dominica Cancer Society continues to encourage people to get “screened” because there are no reasons why a woman should die of breast or cervical cancer simply because these cancers can be screened for and if detected early can be successfully treated.
“We are encouraging women to please have your pap smear done, do your breast self-examinations and have mammograms or go to your health practitioner if you sense something unusual,” Alexander stated.
She also disclosed that the figures are also showing that many more men die of cancer than women and so they are encouraging men to do annual screening routine as part of their lifestyle. “Early detection does save life hence the Dominica Cancer Society is very concern despite our advocacies individuals die of cancer because of late detection,” she remarked.