Cancer Society to launch fund

Breast cancer may be the leading cancer among women in TT, but cervical cancer is also very high. Recent screening by the mobile unit of the TT Cancer Society found that of 1,000 women screened, abnormalities showed in approximately ten percent. Speaking to the media at a luncheon at Trotters, Dr George Laquis yesterday said cervical cancer was detected in women 44 and 45 years old. It was the first time they had a pap smear. He said the cancer has a long latency period and it could have started 20 years ago. Cervical cancer is caused by the Human Papilloma virus. He said screening should target specific high-risk groups in society and treatment should be available. “People with the highest risk of cervical cancer are the poor and they cannot afford a pap smear.” Commenting on the Society’s anti-smoking campaign, Laquis said the focus is on getting people not to start smoking. Calling nicotine the most addictive drug known to man, he said the Society may again attempt a class action law suit against the tobacco industry.

Attempts a few years ago to raise $1 million dollars for this purpose failed. He said financial support for HIV/AIDS was 1,000 times what is given to cancer although more people have died from breast cancer than all the people who have died from AIDS. “Cancer does not have as strong a lobby,” he said. The TT Cancer Society will host “A Gift Love” at 4.30 pm on Sunday at the ballroom of the Cascadia Hotel and Conference Centre, Ariapita Road, St Ann’s. At the event, five people will be honoured for their promotion of cancer awareness in TT — patron of the Society Emmanuel Carter, Henry Phillip, Sally Moutett, Keith De Freitas and the late Doreen Beaubrun. Laquis said they were selected because of their unselfish and untiring efforts to assist cancer patients in TT over the years. A fund will be launched to build a hospice for terminally ill cancer patients.