Colon cancer concern

FOR FOUR YEARS, Barbados has been leading the region in the number of colon cancer cases.

Junior Research Fellow of the Caribbean Colon Cancer Initiative, Dr Anisa Thompson, said this alarming statistic meant it was more important than ever for Barbadians to watch what they eat.

“We have statistics since 2021 which show Barbados is actually No. 1 in the region and eighth in the world when it comes to colon cancer and it’s continuing to rise.

“That is the concern for us at this moment, which is the reason that the Caribbean Colon Cancer Initiative would like to promote screening amongst Barbadians as well as research our population as to why this is so,” she said.

Thompson was one of the guest speakers at the Cancer Support Services Conquering Men and Victorious Ladies Beyond Surviving Forum Shop Talk 8: Let’s Talk About Cancer at The Valley Resource Centre, The Glebe, St George on Saturday evening.

Thompson said there was a link between colorectal cancer and diet, saying foods such as processed meats – ham, bacon, turkey ham, sausages – increased the chances of developing the cancer.

“We’re seeing most of our population consumes the majority of these foods so we’d just like to make the public aware that we have to be mindful of the foods that we’re eating. We must increase our fruits and vegetables, increase the fibre in our diet and really limit the processed foods and meats,” she said.

Evidence Recently, the United States (US) Surgeon General Vivek Murthy published an advisory linking alcohol consumption, even casual use, with various cancers. He outlined the “growing body of evidence” showing the link between alcohol use and at least seven types of cancer – including mouth, throat, voice box, oesophagus, breast, liver and colon/rectum. He also called for warning labels on alcoholic beverages to alert people about the risk.

Gynae-oncologist Dr Vikash Chatrani, another guest at the forum, said it was a matter of following the science.

“All cancers have risk factors. Sugar is the new drug – before they used to have cigarettes at the cashout counter, now you have sweets. Sugar leads to obesity, and obesity is known as a risk factor for cancer. It’s the same thing with alcohol; because we’re a rum-producing country, I always believe that if we’re doing anything, we do it in moderation.

“If the data has shown that alcohol does cause cancer risk, you can’t fight that. At the end of the day, eating too much chocolate causes increased sugar, obesity and a cancer risk. Eating processed foods, eating processed ham and this and that, can cause colon cancer but people like ham in Barbados so you’ve got to do it in moderation, you’ve got to have balance,” he said.

Chatrani said the best way was to balance with a healthy lifestyle, which meant eating mostly right, exercising, and getting screening tests.

“Then you might get away with it. It’s a holistic approach to medicine,” he said. (CA)

GYNAE-ONCOLOGIST Dr Vikash Chatrani

(left)

addressing the audience. Standing is Junior Research Fellow of the Caribbean Colon Cancer Initiative

Dr Anisa Thompson. (Picture by Shanice King.)