Minister Calls for Breast Cancer Registry

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Health News

Thursday, 25 October 2012 02:31

By Carol Williams

Antigua St. John’s - Minister of National Security & Labour Dr Errol Cort has challenged stakeholders involved in the fight against breast cancer to establish a registry for Antigua & Barbuda before year end.

He said the lack of such data makes it impossible to know the scope of the problem, despite indications that the cancer mortality rate in the country has increased over the years.

“Due to the absence of a formal register in Antigua & Barbuda we are unable to speak with any degree of specificity about the actual number of persons who are diagnosed with breast cancer on an annual basis, or the number of persons who are breast cancer survivors, (or) those who would have regrettably passed on due to this illness,” he said.

The minister made the comments during Wednesday’s sitting of the House of Representatives, in observance of Breast Cancer Awareness Month that ends next week.

The American Cancer Society has estimated that nearly 40, 000 women will die of breast cancer in 2012.

Describing the numbers as staggering, the minister urged women to pay regular visits to their doctors to talk about concerns or changes to their bodies and to inquire about tests such as mammograms.

“As a nation we need to continue to raise awareness and increase public education about breast cancer,” he said.

Dr Cort congratulated Breast Friends and other nonprofit organisations that support persons diagnosed with breast cancer, and doctors, nurses, families and friends “who are on the front line of the battle.”

“I encourage our women to be vigilant, as this is quintessential in identifying the early signs of cancer. Breast self-examinations are important…” he noted.

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