EDITORIAL - Living a healthy lifestyle key

October is recognised in Barbados and around the world as Breast Cancer Awareness Month. At this time there is an increase in information circulated about the disease, more efforts to raise funds to help in the fight against the disease, and more opportunities hosted for women to get tested for breast cancer. 

 

This past weekend once again saw a huge turnout for the CIBC FirstCaribbean Walk for the Cure event held in Warrens, one of the fund-raising efforts hosted locally and regionally. And if participation is any indication, then Barbadians are well aware of the issue of breast cancer and the importance of checking for the early signs. 

 

This point of view is supported by Medical Coordinator of the Breast Screening Programme (BSP) of the Barbados Cancer Society, Dr. Shirley Hanoman-Jhagroo, who indicated in a recent 

interview that more people are coming forward to screen for the disease and are thus able to get treatment in the initial stages. 

 

“With improved awareness, we have people coming forward for their checks and then they are diagnosed early. With early diagnosis, lives are saved,” she said, crediting the BSP, which is dedicated to the prevention of premature deaths from breast cancer by early detection, which includes education on breast self-examination and screenings via mammograms.

 

“What used to happen, there were referrals from doctors and different health personnel. Within recent years (however), particularly the last two years, patients are self-referred. We have moved from something like 10% to12%, to about 40% of our patients, that come to the breast screening programme and who are self-referred,” she continued.

 

This is good news for the country, as early detection is the first step in combating cancer, which as a disease is the leading cause of death worldwide (accounting for approximately 13 per cent of deaths).

 

However, though breast cancer is a big concern in this country, all cancers should be of equal concern and as such every individual should aim to lower the risk of developing the disease. A fact sheet published on cancer revealed that 30 per cent of them could be prevented or modified by avoiding key risk factors, for example tobacco use; obesity; low fruit or vegetable intake; lack of physical activity; alcohol use; sexually transmitted HPV infection; urban air pollution and indoor smoke from use of solid fuels. 

 

Many of these factors also predispose individuals to chronic non-communicable diseases like hypertension, diabetes, heart disease and stroke, for instance, which are other major health 

concerns facing many Barbadians. 

 

In the final analysis, living a healthy lifestyle will go a long way in lowering one’s cancer risk. The Government has started the ball rolling by having a more visible push towards preventative healthcare. The Ministries of Health, Education and Sports have frequently teamed up to bring programmes in schools to educate on the need for healthy lifestyle choices. A National Task Force on Physical Activity was also established, aimed at getting more persons at the community level involved in exercise. And with the establishment of the Barbados Non-Communicable Diseases Commission, there is an increased education campaign to inform persons “how it is in their interest to be healthy”.

 

Barbadians are therefore being called upon to take action now, using this month’s activities as a stimulus.