Women, men urged to get screened for cancer

…as ERC observes breast cancer awareness month

The Ethnic Relations Commission (ERC) on Friday observed breast cancer awareness month in Guyana by facilitating talks with cancer survivors and patients, medical personnel and members of the Guyana Cancer Foundation.
This activity was also organised to increase awareness of the disease in Guyana since there has been a significant number of patients who are diagnosed every year.
The ERC, through its partnership with the Guyana Cancer Foundation, is encouraging women to take early preventative measures by getting screened, which can be done at no cost attached through provisions that were set up by the institute. Mammograms and sonograms are offered but there is an age requirement and other factors which must be taken into consideration.
Commissioner Ruth Howard noted, “This is an annual national health campaign organised by major breast cancer charities every October to increase awareness of the disease and to raise funds for research in its cause, prevention, diagnosis, treatment and cure.”
Additionally, the founder of the Guyana Cancer Foundation, Bibi Hassan, highlighted some of the work that has been done by the organisation over the past year to reduce cancer-related cases. This includes medical outreaches which have benefited over 3000 persons.
It was also mentioned that screening for prostate cancer was introduced just one month ago and is completed with a single blood sample. Cancer research will also be directed by the Foundation in Guyana in the near future.
“Just last month we launched prostate cancer screening for 200 men. This is not a physical examination. You just do a simple blood test to get your prostate screening done. It’s a 24-hour service and it just takes like five minutes,” said Hassan.
With the mission statement “to reintegrate cancer survivors back into society”, the Foundation is seeking to offer as much assistance to the public as possible, where funds are also generated to provide these services.
Medical personnel at the event would have also facilitated talks on what persons can do to detect cancer at an early stage. This disease is considered as the leading cause of cancer related deaths in women in Guyana and throughout the month of October, persons are encouraged to wear pink to show their support.
Breast Cancer awareness month was introduced in 1985 by the American Cancer Society and the pharmaceutical division of Empirical Chemical Industries.