The theme for World Cancer Day observed over the weekend across the world was, “Together it is Possible.”
President of Parliament Hon. drs. Gracita Arrindell calls on women and men to seek early screening to detect the disease promptly as that is the key to reducing the nearly eight million deaths caused by cancer across the globe annually.
Each year on 4 February, the World Health Organization (WHO) and International Agency for Research on Cancer (IARC) supports International Union against Cancer (UICC) to promote ways to ease the global burden of cancer.
Preventing cancer and raising the quality of life for cancer patients are recurring themes. WHO and IARC will focus their efforts this year on screening and vaccination.
Cancer is a generic term for a large group of diseases that can affect any part of the body. Other terms used are malignant tumours and neoplasm.
One defining feature of cancer is the rapid creation of abnormal cells that grow beyond their usual boundaries, and which can then invade adjoining parts of the body and spread to other organs. This process is referred to as metastasis and is a major cause of death from cancer.
“Breast cancer is currently the top cancer in women worldwide, both in developed and the developing world. Together it is possible to reduce the number of women who die from breast cancer annually.
“I would like to commend local cancer awareness groups who deserve our continued support as a community in their efforts to educate the populace.
“It’s critically important to take your screening as prescribed by your family physician. This fact hit home, when just this past week a very good friend of mine shared with me her fear of perhaps having breast cancer. I hope and pray for her that her diagnosis is not life threatening.
“Early screening and vaccinations, especially the latter, can prevent infections associated with cancers. Vaccination is available against cervical cancer, which is caused by the human papilloma virus (HPV) and liver cancer, which results from infection with the hepatitis B virus (HBV).
“I appeal to the women of this great country to make it a priority when it comes to preventive health and get screened and also look into the aforementioned vaccinations that can prevent cancer,” President of Parliament Hon. Gracita Arrindell said on Sunday.