Gaps in data gathering at Cancer Registry needs attention – Dr Anthony

Health Minister Dr Frank Anthony has sounded the call for gaps to be closed at the Guyana Cancer Registry, which means ensuring the country’s data gathering and reporting is up-to-date.
On Tuesday, the Health Ministry facilitated a stakeholders’ meeting with the Guyana Cancer Registry to iron out these issues.
The Ministry has been working closely to support and strengthen the work of the Cancer Registry through this multi-stakeholder approach, where gaps in cancer data reporting can be identified. The intention is to have a systematic protocol in place to capture all relevant information needed for a reputable cancer registry.
In his remarks, Dr Anthony emphasised the need to deliver the data on time, and the need to update the cancer data reporting. He outlined,
“Many people who should be sending information to the Cancer Registry are not doing so, which is the reason we want people to come here. We need to address this issue so that people may understand their responsibilities and the need to provide that information promptly to the registry.”
Meanwhile, the Director for Non-Communicable Diseases, Dr Latchmine Lall, noted that data from attending physicians, pathology labs, and death statistics units are the main sources of data. Hence, frequent reporting is required to be able to gather information and report on the incidents of cancers in Guyana.
According to data from the Ministry of Health, in 2018, Guyana’s cancer incidence rate was at a staggering 46.9 per cent – the highest in the Caribbean. This was coupled with a mortality rate of 21.0 per 100,000 persons.
In 2021, Guyana was leading the list of countries in the Region of the Americas for reported cases of cervical cancer. Last year, it was reported that the prevalence of cancer is a continuous challenge to Guyana’s healthcare sector. It remains one of the most common causes of premature death affecting people of any age and gender.
In the children demographic, the most prevalent cancer detected in Guyana is acute leukaemia cases – accounting for about 69 per cent of detected cases.
World Health Organization’s (WHO’s) statistics show that cancer is the second leading cause of death globally, accounting for over nine million deaths. Lung, prostate, colorectal, stomach and liver cancer are the most common types of cancer in men; while breast, colorectal, lung, cervical and thyroid cancer are most common among women.
According to global data, the number of cancer deaths could increase by over 50 per cent by 2030 if immediate action is not taken, especially in the low- and middle-income countries, where most of the deaths are likely to occur. Between 30 and 40 per cent of cancer cases could be prevented, and one-third of cancer cases could be cured through early diagnosis and treatment. (G12)