Health
Exploring Cancer Patterns in English-Speaking Caribbean Countries: Rankings and Prevention Strategies
This article explores the prevalence of prostate, breast, and uterine cancers in English-speaking Caribbean countries, highlighting the importance of early detection and prevention efforts to reduce cancer-related mortality rates.
5 min read
Originally published by barbadostoday.bb (opens in new tab)
Cancers are a group of non-communicable diseases (NCDs) that have been simmering on the back burner of most Caribbean islands, while diabetes, hypertension and cardiovascular diseases share the spotlight. A closer look at the statistics suggests that this should not be the case.
Causes of Death, ranked:
When one reviews the five leading causes of death in English-speaking Caribbean countries, one sees prostate cancer and breast cancer often featuring on this list. In fact, as far as prostate cancer is concerned, of the top 12 countries in the world with the highest death rates from prostate cancer, nine English-speaking Caribbean countries appear on that list. By comparison, as far as breast cancer is concerned, only five Caribbean countries appear on the list of top 12 countries with the highest rates. But this tells us that we do have high rates of prostate and breast cancers. The exact reason for this is unknown. Although less deadly than prostate and breast cancers, still seven Caribbean countries appear on the list of the top 12 countries with leading rates from cancer of the uterus. (Generally, more men die from prostate cancer than women die from breast and uterine cancers combined).
In Guyana, where a cancer does not appear in the top five causes of death, prostate cancer sits at position six, and breast cancer at position 11.
However, we have recognised that some risk factors, if efforts of prevention are strenuously practised, can significantly reduce one’s chances of developing these cancers. As an important second line of defence, early detection through screening programmes offers an opportunity for early intervention and improves chances of long term survival. Many cancers are asymptomatic in early stages. That is why screening is needed: to detect these cancers before they spread, cause symptoms, and cause even more problems. Treatment can be curative if cancers are detected early.
More than half of cancer deaths worldwide being potentially preventable, prevention offers the most cost-effective and sustainable strategy for cancer control.
Some international researchers point to the escalating rates of obesity over the last few decades as an explanation for high cancer rates worldwide, and earlier onset cancers noted in some places. Caribbean countries have high obesity rates. On a related note, the change in dietary habits, with increased consumption of ultra-processed foods, and adopting more sedentary lifestyles may also be associated with high cancer rates. Others speculate that there may be environmental factors at play, such as carcinogens released into the air, water and food supplies.
