Statistics from the Cayman Islands Cancer Registry have shown that colon cancer is now the second most reported cancer here and local haematologist-oncologist Dr. Lundie Richards is urging the community to consider early testing to increase chances of survival.
“Cancer can affect anybody. So if you have a family history, don’t be afraid. When you go and see your primary care team, tell them the truth, tell them what has happened so that you may be guided as to what are some of the screening tests that can be done,” Richards said during a Zoom interview with the Cayman Compass Tuesday as he shared that colorectal cancer is the focus of this year’s World Cancer Day seminar at the Health Services Authority on Thursday.
Richards, who is set to speak at a seminar themed ‘Advances in Colorectal Cancer – tribute to Pelé and Chadwick Boseman’, lamented that the recent death of the football legend last year and renowned actor in 2020 has demonstrated that colorectal cancer does not discriminate based on age, which is why testing is key.
“Screening tests may be very simple to start off with [like] stool tests, it’s cheap and you’re not exposed to any radiation or any procedure,” he said.
11% of all cancers colorectal
Cancer registrar Amanda Nicholson, who will also be presenting at the free seminar, said, presently, 11% of all reported cancers to the registry are colorectal.
“Colorectal cancer is now the second most reported cancer to the Registry. Of these cancers, approximately 46% were diagnosed in males and 54% in females. The majority of colorectal cancers (64%) were diagnosed in adults between ages 50 and 69,” she said, adding that this data does not represent all cases of cancer in Cayman, only those who have registered.
She reminded that though not mandatory, reporting a cancer diagnosis is very important.
“All data collected by the Cancer Registry is strictly confidential. We encourage cancer survivors within the community to consider registering. This gives us a better understanding of how cancer impacts our population,” she said.
Richards, an HSA consultant haematologist-oncologist, pointed out that there is a “cancer pandemic” happening and it affects “each and every one of us”.
He said HSA plays a role in fighting against cancer by ensuring “people do have access to prevention strategies and treatment strategies”.
The seminar, which is being held at the Cayman Islands Hospital from 4:30pm, is open to the public.
Healthy living essential to cancer prevention
Richards said it was key to highlight the cases of Pelé and Boseman as they are the most high profile examples of one of the most prevalent cancers worldwide.
He said 150,000 people a year in the US are diagnosed with colon cancer each year, and, for a third, it will prove terminal.
“But we can close that gap if we do [these] three things… if we have the healthy lifestyle, the early screening and appropriate management,” Richards said.
The Lions Club of Grand Cayman will also be hosting a PACCE Education night on 20 Feb. at the North Side Civic Centre from 7pm and will be offering free colon and prostate cancer testing from Royale Medical.
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I’m 54 and the Dr has advised for the last 5 years that I should get a colonoscopy. But my wellness benefit on my insurance covers $200 USD a year and the colonoscopy is $5000. I can’t afford to pay for it.
So the two tier system in life of rich and have everything, or poor and have nothing applies to healthcare and life expectancy too.
There needs to be a better system of healthcare screening and wellness benefits so people don’t die because they had a disease that could have been treated, if only they could have afforded the screening.