‘Adopt a healthier lifestyle’

Barbadians were given food for thought when they attended the Cancer Support Services’ public lecture entitled “Integrative Cancer Care”.

The key speaker at this event, which was jointly staged in association with 21st Century Oncology, was Health Psychologist, Board Certified Specialist, Oncology Nutrition, Dr. Cindy Collins. She shared with the audience at the Lloyd Erskine Sandiford Centre information about the types of healthy foods and beverages that can be consumed to assist patients who are journeying with or are cancer survivors.

Included in the information, Dr. Collins highlighted examples of foods that are high in antioxidants and good sources of protein and different vitamins. She also spoke about the significance of exercise, pointing out that patients on cancer treatment also need to exercise, even if it is to stretch. She stated that exercise lowers inflammatory markers and it increases circulation, which results in “more oxygen delivered to every area of the body”.

Speaking to The Barbados Advocate, Dr. Collins shared that from the lecture her “main hope would be that hearing information and a way to apply the information would bring people hope, that they would see a path for themselves”.

Meanwhile, President of Cancer Support Services, Kathy-Ann Kelly-Springer, said that Friday’s lecture sought to remind Barbadians of the need to adopt a healthier lifestyle.

“We always want persons to realise that anything is possible and with all of the NCDs, lifestyle change is a must. If you do the same thing over and over again you are going to get the same results, but it is a matter of doing things incrementally because as we say habits are difficult to change. We just need to let persons know that anything is possible.” (MG)