The BVI cancer Society will hold a candlelight vigil at Noel Lloyd Positive Action Movement Park on February 4, 2017. Photo: Facebook

What’s more striking is that cancer does not have to be the cause of one’s death once detected in an early stage. This is a message that many organisations world-wide and right here in the Virgin Islands (UK) continue to preach 24/7, 365 days a year.

None-the-less, the BVI Cancer Society led by a committed President and cancer survivor Ms Gloria A. Fahie is determined to do as much as it can to spread the awareness and provide care and many forms of support for persons living with this disease.

The Society will be at the Noel Lloyd Positive Action Movement Park on February 4, 2017 for a candle light vigil and has made an invitation to all as they seek to strengthen their advocacy, which coincides with ‘World Cancer Day”. The theme is one that runs the same from 2016 – 2018, “We Can. I Can.”

Mrs Fahie has encouraged all to come out and listen to an 8-year-old speak about how she is dealing with ovarian cancer. Another person will speak about Colon Cancer and Breast Cancer. The new Director at the National Health Insurance, Dr Harlan O. Vanterpool, will be the guest speaker.

“It’s going to be great, it’s going to be fun, it’s going to be emotional, but most of all its going to be positive,” Mrs Fahie told this news site.

Cancer #2 killer in the Caribbean

The Trinidad-based Caribbean Public Health Agency (CARPHA) says cancers are the second leading cause of death in the region and acknowledged that nearly one half of cancers are preventable or treatable if detected early.

CARPHA said that among females, breast cancer is the main cause of death, followed by cervical cancer. Prostate cancer is ranked as the leading cause of cancer death among males, with lung cancer being the second main cause of cancer death. Lung cancer also contributes to a high number of deaths among women. Colon cancer is the fifth leading cause of death in the region, with an almost equal number of deaths among males and females.

Cervical cancer is one of the most preventable, yet it claims the lives of approximately 2,500 women, CARPHA said.

There are common modifiable risk factors that contribute to the development of cancers. These include tobacco use, unhealthy diets, physical inactivity and harmful use of alcohol.