REPRESENTATIVES FROM the Jamaica Cancer Society (JCS) had a lively and informative chat session on breast and other cancers in cyberspace through the go-jamaica web site on Tuesday night at The Gleaner's offices.
The cancer topic piqued much interest as a total of 85 persons, a number usually associated with entertainment guests, participated in the session in which the JCS representatives, Marva Lee, JCS administrator; Yvonne Watson, radiographer and manager of the JCS Mammography department; Dr. Trevor Golding, consultant radiologist and Dr. Michael McFarlane, consultant surgeon, fielded questions on cancer and cancer related topics.
The questions ranged from the serious to the hilarious which had the JCS team cracking up with laughter at times. "We educate the public about cancer. We provide screening for breast, cervical and prostate cancer and we do counselling for persons with cancer. We also do educational talks," explained Mrs. Lee to one "chatter" who wanted to know what the JCS was about.
Many persons were happy to know that over 90 per cent of breast lumps in adult Jamaican women are non-cancerous. However, chatters were told by Ms. Watson that if they "don't check out lumps you won't know if its cancerous or not."
The latest statistics out of Jamaica, explained Mrs. Watson, are that between 1993 and 1997 just over 43 women out of every 100,000 in Jamaica will get breast cancer in her lifetime.
It was also noted by the team that the incidence of breast cancer was very low in women under age 50 so the 35-40 age group is a reasonable age to start screening. Some chatters questioned why it was not recommended that women under 30 be screened for breast cancer and Ms. Watson explained that "their breasts are not easily penetrated by the X-rays used in mammograms." She pointed out, however, that younger women who feel it necessary to check for cancerous lumps can do so through the use of ultrasound technology.
Dr. McFarlane explained that breast cancer was quite low in the African population. However, Africans have the highest mortality rate because of later diagnoses and delayed treatment.
Adult women who have never had children are more likely to develop breast cancer because of long uninterrupted exposure to oestrogen which is the hormone produced by the ovaries in women. Some breast cancers have been linked to oestrogen.
Many cancers, particularly breast and colon cancer, are higher in people who are obese. Obesity is described as being 20 per cent over your ideal body weight.
Ways of treating cancer without radiation include chemo-therapy and surgery.
Mammograms at the JCS are $2200 or $440 with your major health card. For further information on breast, prostate and cervical cancer you can contact the JCS at 927-4625 or visit their web site at http://www.jamaicacancersociety.org.
