Dionne Rose, Staff Reporter
Dr. Madhavi Chilkuri (left), radiation oncologist at the Kingston Public Hospital speaks with Marva Lee, administrative director of the Jamaica Cancer Society, during a 'Public Forum on Breast Cancer' held at the Girls' Guide Association headquarters, Waterloo Road, last Tuesday. - WINSTON SILL/FREELANCE PHOTOGRAPHER
MEDICAL DIRECTOR of the Women's Oncology Clinic in the United States, Dr. Ronda Henry-Tillman, is urging women to practise regular breast self-examinations and use mammograms for early detection in the fight against breast cancer.
Dr. Henry-Tillman made the appeal to hundreds of women who turned out Thursday for the "Keeping Abreast" luncheon, organised by the Jamaica Cancer Society, at the Hilton Kingston Hotel, New Kingston.
"Instead of people waiting for symptoms to appear with little chance of cure, how do you convince people to seek care when they are asymptomatic?" she asked.
She said the concentration should not only be on the study of the tumour but on using the methods of early detection.
Dr. Henry-Tillman, who is also attached to the Arkansas Cancer Research Centre, said that there is a 95 per cent chance of survival if breast cancer is diagnosed early. She called for the strengthening of public education awareness programmes to curb the disease.
SIGNIFICANT DEATHS
"We are still having significant deaths form breast cancer. So what do you think can make that difference?" she asked. "I am convinced that the public education awareness programmes must be strengthened and encouragement and empowerment (given to) women and men alike to make this happen."
Breast cancer is the most common cancer in women and the second leading cause of cancer deaths. In 1999, 301 Jamaican women died from breast cancer. Worldwide, it is projected that 1.2 million persons will be diagnosed with breast cancer this year.
Ten women were also honoured for their 10 years of dedication to the Jamaica Cancer Society.
They were Denise Mullings, Donaver (Terry) Esson, Donna Carroll, Dr. Jennifer Alexander, Edith Allen, Elitte Sellars-Wright, Hyacinth Franklin, Mercilyn Bellamy, Norma Darlington and Norma Gordon-Rowe.
