Monday February 4th is World
Cancer Day.

It is not a day for celebration but a
day we should all think about as many of us living here have at some
time in our lives been diagnosed with cancer. It is an illness a lot
of us don't wish to talk about and I was very vociferous against the
local cancer society who were trying to get a compulsory register of
everyone of us here who has cancer. They even held a poll to see who
would agree with them.

They did not first ask any one of us
who has or has had cancer for our views first. Neither did government
who also took up this initiative. To my knowledge this compulsory
registration has been dropped.

Instead, in my opinion, they should
have been hitting home the ways cancer can be reduced.

On the Prevent Cancer website it
states;

More than 1.6 million Americans will be
diagnosed with cancer this year and more than 589,000 will die.
However, research shows that up to 50 percent of cancer cases and
deaths are preventable. Prevention and early detection are more
important than ever — and are proven, effective strategies to lower
health care costs.

You make choices every day that affect
your health. Follow our Seven Steps to Prevent Cancer to reduce your
risk.

1. Don't use tobacco.
   
2. Protect your skin from the sun
   
3. Eat a healthy diet
   
4. Maintain a healthy weight and be
   physically active.
   
5. Get immunized (HPV & hepatitis
   vaccines}
   
6. Practice safer sex and avoid risky
   behaviors.
   
7. Know your family medical history
   and get regular cancer screenings.
   

For more go to:
https://preventcancer.org/education/seven-steps-to-prevent-cancer/

On the World Health Organization's
website they claim 17 people die EVERY MINUTE from cancer.

There has also been a lot of talk over the past five years of palliative care for cancer patients.

Palliative care is care given to
improve the quality of life of patients who have a serious or
life-threatening disease, such as cancer. Palliative care is an
approach to care that addresses the person as a whole, not just their
disease. The goal is to prevent or treat, as early as possible, the
symptoms and side effects of the disease and its treatment, in
addition to any related psychological, social, and spiritual
problems. Palliative care is also called comfort care, supportive
care, and symptom management. Patients may receive palliative care in
the hospital, an outpatient clinic, a long-term care facility, or at
home under the direction of a physician.

To find out more about this go to:
https://www.cancer.gov/about-cancer/advanced-cancer/care-choices/palliative-care-fact-sheet

To find out more about how cancer
patients are treated here in the Cayman islands go to:
http://www.cics.ky/

The Cayman Islands Cancer Society
(CICS) is a non-profit charitable organisation, which was established
in 1995. The CICS relies exclusively on special fundraising efforts
and donations from the community. The CICS uses the funds it
receives to help the community in several ways, but most prevalently
through cancer awareness programmes and direct financial assistance
to patients who have been diagnosed with cancer.

In addition to direct financial
assistance, the CICS helps provide patients with access to health
care equipment (wheelchairs/walkers), prosthetics and provides
counselling and on-going support services to patients and their
families. Assistance from the CICS is available to anyone living in
the Cayman Islands and, as an independent organisation, all monies
raised in Cayman stay in Cayman to benefit our community.

They have just concluded their STRIDE
fundraising event that took place on January 27th.
Hundreds took part in the various STRIDE events but I have not been
able to obtain the amount of money that was raised. Organisers said
they were hoping to raise $50,000.

Funds will go towards their financial
aid programme that helps people with cancer in the community pay for
vital services and also helps the general public with screening, such
as paying for an annual cervical screening for women who would
otherwise not be able to pay for the service.

I understand last year the CICS paid
out approximately $400,000 in financial aid.

To answer the question “Will there
ever be a cure for cancer?”

The short answer to this question is
no.

Whist there have been major
improvements in all aspects of cancer care and treatment and many
more people are having their cancer go into remission after receiving
the treatments now available, the frightening news is he number of
people being diagnosed is also growing each year.

Monday February 4th is a
very important day in our calendar. How many persons do you know who
have been diagnosed with this awful disease? How many persons do you
know who have died from cancer?