The
Health Services Authority and the Cayman Islands Cancer Registry join
communities and medical professionals across the world to observe
Cancer Registrars Week, April 6-10, 2020 and recognise the country’s
progression in voluntary cancer registration.

This
year’s theme ‘2020 Vision for the Future’ reflects the critical
role cancer registrars play in capturing data that informs cancer
prevention and screening programs, treatment, and research.

“Understanding
cancer data is the key to the nations fight against cancer. By
collecting and analyzing cancer data we can better plan healthcare
infrastructure, clinical services and other support systems” Amanda
Nicholson, the Cayman Islands Cancer Registrar.

“Within
our community, National Cancer Registrars Week isn’t just about
cancer registrars. It’s also about recognising everyone involved
with cancer surveillance and prevention. We rely strongly on our
partner organisations, the nurses and doctors at our local hospitals,
and most importantly, cancer survivors themselves. Cancer prevention
efforts in Cayman come from a large network of people and
organizations within our community.”

The
Cayman Islands Cancer Registry is a population-based health registry
that relies on persons to volunteer the information as it is not
mandatory in the Cayman Islands. The registry is unique in its cancer
surveillance which captures data on a diverse and multicultural
population in the Cayman Islands. The registry was developed to
better understand what cancer trends look like within the Cayman
Islands, thereby making it possible to do more in terms of
prevention. 

“From
the data collected we can start to see some emerging trends taking
shape. In 2019 the most reported cancers for males included prostate
cancer, cancers of the blood and lung cancer respectively. For women
the most reported cancers were breast cancer, colon cancer and
ovarian cancer. Breast cancer remains the most reported cancer to the
registry overall.”

Approximately
68% of registrants for 2019 were female and 32% male.  Most
cases in the registry for last year were reported by registrants
within the first 6 months of receiving a diagnosis.

The
Cayman Islands Cancer Registry is calling for cancer patients &
survivors to register and complete the online data collection form.
All information included in the registry is confidential and
anonymous as the registry uses a digital numbering method, database
designed by the World Health Organisation (WHO) and customised to fit
the needs of Cayman’s unique community.

Registering
only takes a few minutes and can be done in person or via e-mail.
Anyone wishing to register, or learn more about the national cancer
registry, may contact Amanda Nicholson at (345) 244-2560 or
Amanda.nicholson@hsa.ky.