GREAT BAY (DCOMM):--- Cancer is the second leading cause of death in Latin America and the Caribbean. In 2005, approximately 1.15 million people in the Americas died of cancer, and 480,000 of these deaths were in Latin America and the Caribbean (LAC).
The Cancer Conference being jointly organized by Collective Prevention Services (CPS) from the Ministry of Public Health, Social Development and Labour, and a number of Non-Governmental Organizations (NGOs), will be held under the theme: "Cancer and aging, collectively improving our local cancer care and responsibility!" The conference is on October 26 and 27 at the Sonesta Great Bay Beach Hotel & Casino
The overall cancer mortality rate in LAC is 107/100,000 and the highest rates are observed in Uruguay, Barbados, Peru, Argentina and Chile.
The most common cancers in the region include stomach, prostate, lung, and colorectal cancers in men; and cervical, breast, stomach and colorectal cancers in women.
Expected demographic changes, along with increased exposure to cancer risk factors, will result in increases in the burden of cancer in LAC in the near future.
Inequalities in access to cancer care and to preventive health services further exacerbate the problem.
Several speakers will be highlighting the different cancers during the conference. Professor Trevor Hassell, Adjunct Professor of Medicine, University of the West Indies, Barbados, will one of those speakers.
Professor Hassell is also Honorary Consultant Physician and Cardiologist at the Queen Elizabeth Hospital in Barbados, and Chairman of the National Commission for Chronic Non Communicable Diseases.
Professor Hassell was recently appointed as Barbados Special Envoy for Chronic Diseases, and has received many awards including appointment to the Order of Barbados in the Grade of the Gold Crown of Merit in recognition of his outstanding contribution to the medical profession.
During the conference, Professor Trevor Hassell will be addressing Best Practice National Program of Monitoring and Managing Cancer Registry and Guidelines for Cancer Diagnosis and Treatment.
'Get Checked,' is the Minister of Public Health's campaign to improve public health amongst the population of the country, and the conference is one of the avenues to forth awareness within the community.
