Premier Ellis Lorenzo Webster.
ANGUILLA--“In Anguilla, breast cancer was the third leading cause of cancer deaths overall between 2010 and 2019 and the leading cause of cancer deaths among women during that same period,” said Premier Ellis Lorenzo Webster, who is also Minister of Health, in an address in relation to Breast Cancer Awareness Month. He noted that the month is marked in countries around the world every October and helps to increase attention and support for the awareness, early detection and treatment of the disease.
Webster said breast cancer is the second leading cause of cancer deaths in women in the Caribbean region, with more than 462,000 women newly diagnosed and approximately 100,000 women who die from breast cancer each year.
“Early detection of the disease remains the cornerstone of breast cancer control. When breast cancer is detected early and if adequate diagnosis and treatment are available, there is a good chance that breast cancer can be cured. Organised screening programmes with breast examinations and mammograms have led to earlier diagnosis, and coupled with effective treatment, have led to reductions in breast cancer deaths,” he said.
The premier said studies have shown that the risk of breast cancer is due to a combination of factors, some of which we can change and some we cannot. Those that cannot be changed include increasing age, a personal history of breast conditions, a family history of breast cancer, and radiation exposure. Risk factors that can be controlled include not being physically active, being overweight, taking hormones, never having a full-term pregnancy and drinking alcohol. He suggested that women should examine their breasts regularly and notice any changes. He also suggested regular screening.
“Talk with a healthcare provider about your risk for breast cancer, ways to reduce your risk and the best screening plan for you, including breast examination, mammogram, breast ultrasound and/or breast [magnetic resonance imaging – Ed.] MRI. This may save your life,” he concluded.
