4,000 cancer

It is the second leading cause of death in TT after cardiovascular disease.

Health Minister John Rahael yesterday provided these statistics compiled by the National Cancer Registry at the opening ceremony for the Peregrine Chemotherapy Suite, at the National Radiotherapy Centre. He said, “The report goes on to state that of the new cases, 3,926 were male of which just over 2,000 cases resulted in mortality while of the 3,908 female cases over 2,300 deaths occurred.”

Rahael said of concern to the country is that the statistics showed that half of the cancers detected occurred in people in the most productive age group — 16-64 years. He said over the past ten years the country has witnessed an overall increase in the number of new clients accessing the service at the National Radiotherapy Centre.

Rahael said a primary reason for the high mortality is late diagnosis. He said the Government has placed a priority on early cancer detection and care programmes in the development of health care in the country.

Rahael said a more holistic approach is being adopted with the Government collaborating with the Canadian government on the multi-million dollar Oncology programme which encompassed prevention, screening, treatment and palliative and supportive care.

Rahael said a note was before Cabinet for the start of construction of the National Oncology Centre, at the Eric Williams Medical Sciences Complex, Mt Hope.

He admitted that the centre has been long in coming and designs had been improved. Rahael said the commissioning of the Chemotherapy Suite, represented an immediate response to improving the treatment options for people diagnosed with cancer.

Yolande Gooding, a survivor of cancer for the past 12 years said the new Suite provided patients with “relative comfort” and was a place where patients at varying stages of treatment could sit and share their experiences. As a former patient, Gooding said one of the things she found beneficial was being able to talk to other patients because it was comforting to know others shared her hopes, fears and even “reactions.”

Gooding said when she began treatment in 1994 there was “musical chairs” because of limited space. She said patients barely had time to talk since they had to make way for another person.

She said from 1994 when she first started getting treatment to today there has been an “explosion” in the number of patients but no expansion of treatment facilities.

She reminded that people going to the Radiotherapy Centre were from TT and other islands in the region. Gooding said, “It becomes obvious that this new accommodation will be inadequate or will be soon.”

She hoped that the new Suite was just the start and advised that planning take place for the future.

Celia Singh, the general manager of planning, commissioning and projects said waiting time for patients should be reduced with the addition of 31 new recline seats (for intravenous chemotherapy infusion) at the Peregrine Suite. She said computer equipment will be acquired and other health equipment. Singh said the NWRHA recognised the need for additional trained staff. The suite was refurbished at a cost of $450,000 and assistance from several sponsors.

The Peregrine suite was named after a man who was afflicted with cancer at the age of 60. He prayed and was cured. Twenty years was added on to his life.