by Donella Hosten
This year’s Breast Cancer Awareness Month, themed ‘Walking to Save a Life’, focuses mainly on raising awareness and educating persons about cancer.
The Grenada Cancer Society (GCS) and the Pink Ribbon Society are the main organisations in Grenada which support and assist cancer patients.
Cancer care and treatment are very expensive, and these organisations seek to provide financial assistance to those in need, and other means of support to their immediate families and loved ones.
Although the Pink Ribbon Society focuses mainly on breast cancer patients, they, along with the GCS, support patients with other types of cancer as well.
President of the Pink Ribbon Society, Mrs Glenda Seales, said according to statistics, 17 out of every 100 persons every year in Grenada are likely to be diagnosed with cancer; and according to Dr Barrymore McBarnette, President of the GCS, there has been a general increase in the number of newly diagnosed cases for the year.
For the month thus far, the Pink Ribbon Society has done a number of radio and television programmes to inform the public about breast cancer and early detection. Mrs Seales also said it was important for persons to realise that men are also prone to breast cancer.
The Pink Ribbon Society collaborated with the GCS to host a Walk for Cancer on Sunday, 16 October 2016. The Walk commenced at 4 pm at Camerhogne Park, along to the Tanteen Netball Court. All donations and proceeds from the Walk are to be used for cancer care and treatment.
CIBC FirstCaribbean will also be hosting their annual fundraising Walk at the end of October. According to Dr McBarnette, all proceeds will be going to the GCS and used towards educational purposes and cancer care.
Throughout the month, the GCS has collaborated with the Rotaract Club and the Public Health Students Association from the St George’s University (SGU) to host a series of activities and educational forums with secondary school students.
The Pink Ribbon Society and the Grenada Cancer Society are welcoming persons wishing to be volunteers to join.
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