When we hear the word cancer, all sorts of emotions are aroused, including fear and anxiety and rightly so, because cancers are associated with high morbidity and mortality.
According to the International Association for Cancer Research (IARC), there were 14 million new cases of cancer and 8.2 million cancer related deaths in 2012. This figure is expected to rise to 22 million new cases in the next two decades, an increase of 70% which paints quite a daunting picture.
More than 60% of cases and 70% of deaths occur in developing countries such as Guyana. This places an enormous economic burden on the resources of these countries and untold suffering on those who are affected and their families.
Unfortunately, developing countries which face the heaviest of the cancer burden are the ones that are least prepared to manage this. One key element is data, or the lack of it.
However, last year, the Public Health Ministrylaunched a10 year Cancer profile of Guyana, which saw Guyana moving in the right direction in addressing this information gap.
Like all of the NCDs, cancers are associated with certain risk factors. Major risk factors identified for cancers are smoking, physical inactivity, dietary patterns, reproductive behaviours and infectious agents.
Smoking is a significant risk factor, especially for lung cancer, where an estimated 70% of cases are caused by tobacco use, and contributing to cardiovascular diseases, which are among the leading causes of death in Guyana. Smoking is very prevalent among the male Guyanese population.
The Guyana Demographic Health Survey (GDHS) of 2009 found that approximately one third of men aged 15-49 years used tobacco products, while only 3% of women did. However, smoking in women increased by age group.
The Guyana School Health Survey (GSHS) of 2010 found that close to 90% of students (age 13-15 years) had tried cigarettes before the age of 14 years, while 60% were exposed to second hand smoke. 23% of these students had a parent or guardian who smoked in their presence. Almost 13% of students had used a controlled substance.
Guyana has a draft tobacco legislation which I am keen on seeing being passed in parliament. This passage would go a long way in helping us to put measures in place to make some significant inroads into the harmful use of tobacco.
Tackling overweight and obesity are close to my heart. I therefore intend to place more emphasis on a crusade of promoting increased physical activity in all schools, encouraging the construction of more recreational spaces in our communities and also for places of employment.Already we have seen the setting up of more play parks for children in Georgetown by the David Granger led APNU/AFC administration.
Close to a third of students surveyed had experienced sexual intercourse and of those that experienced sexual contact, some 71% initiated sex before the age of 14 years.
As we can see from these data, there is a high prevalence of modifiable risk factors which significantly contribute to cancers and other NCDs in this country.
These are amenable to behavior change, but this requires commitment and hard work and yes, team work.
The Ministry of Public Health, with the assistance of its partners continues to have robust programmes to address the various cancers affecting the population.
We continue to provide high quality health care services to persons with Cancer and are committed to further improving those services.
World Cancer day 2016 is taking place under the tagline “We Can. I can” and I want to take this opportunity to implore all Guyanese to do their part to reduce the burden of Cancer here.
Cancer is everyone’s business and together, as a country, we can contribute to the reduction of the burden it has on the world.
“WE CAN. I CAN…RAGE A WAR AGAINST CANCER”