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The Cayman Islands Cancer Society provides education on cancers and provides direct assistance to cancer patients and their families.
The small non-profit organisation, set up in 1995, has one part-time and two full-time staff members but has a “mighty corps of community volunteers who help us accomplish our mission all year long”, explained Jennifer Weber, Operations Manager of the Cancer Society.
The Cancer Society receives no money from the government and exists through generous of donations received from individuals and corporations.
“We are an independent organisation in that we do not pay membership dues to any affiliate or branch of any other organisation. As such, we have the ability to have money raised in Cayman stay in Cayman,” Ms Weber said.
The organisation provides education to help prevent cancer through topical presentations to churches, schools and community groups.
“Awareness is key, so we are getting the word out to the people and the newspapers as often as possible. We also provide health fairs for the community in Grand Cayman and Cayman Brac,” she said.
The Cancer Society also promotes early detection by providing free mammogram vouchers, pap test vouchers and prostate exam vouchers year round to people who have no insurance or have insurance that does not pay for preventative diagnostic testing.
“This is an expensive programme for us to provide but it saves lives, so it’s critically important,” said Ms Weber.
The Society also provides direct assistance to people with cancer in a variety of ways, including giving them access to a lending library of books about cancer, nutrition and other topics of interest to patients and their loved ones and lending and renting them hospital equipment, such as hospital beds, wheelchairs or walkers.
The organisation also provides free counselling to cancer patients, families and friends.
For women who have lost their breasts to cancer, the Cancer Society is the exclusive retailer of prosthetic breasts and bras on Cayman.
“We are able to get these important things for women who have had mastectomies at a reasonable price and if the cost is too much for the patient, we provide them at no cost,” said Ms Weber.
“Most importantly, we provide direct financial help to cancer patients.
Almost no one can afford to have cancer. We provide financial help to fill in the gaps and treat each individual on a case-by-case basis.
“We help patients with everything from payments for surgeries and treatments, to airfare and accommodations, to food and rent. We have seen a dramatic increase in the number of patients who need our help, so our need for funding is great,” she said.
The Cancer Society also partners with the Cayman Islands Health Services Authority to support additional large scale public health initiatives, such as bringing the HPV cervical cancer preventing vaccine to Cayman for public and private sector physicians. This vaccine will help reduce the rate of cervical cancer in the next generation.
The organisation also pays the salary of the registrar who is creating a National Cancer Registry so the Islands can finally know the real statistics about cancer in Cayman.
Throughout the year, there are designated cancer months, when the Cancer Society concentrates on educating the public about specific types of cancer, placing articles in local media and holding presentations and seminars for the public.
March is Colon Cancer Month, April is Gastrointestinal Cancer Month, May is Lung Cancer Month, June, July and August are dedicated to skin cancer, September is Female Cancers Month, October is Breast Cancer Month, and November is Prostate Cancer Month.
The Cancer Society also organises free seminars for local companies, community groups and charitable organisations on a variety of cancer-related topics, like the health effects of smoking, cancer prevention, and skin cancer and sun safety.
To find out more about the Cancer Society, or to book a seminar, contact Victoria Anderson Gray, Project Coordinator at 949-7618 or email [email protected].
For more information
T: (345) 949-7618
E: [email protected]
W: www.cics.ky
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