Cancer Society warns screening rates remain dangerously low

A top cancer advocate has hailed the installation of a new $10m hightech radiotherapy machine at the Queen Elizabeth Hospital as a transformative step in cancer care, but warned that the impact will be blunted unless more Barbadians — especially men — get screened for the disease.

President of the Barbados Cancer Society, Professor David Rosin, welcomed the introduction of the new linear accelerator. It precisely targets and destroys cancer cells with high‐energy radiation while minimising damage to surrounding healthy tissue.

According to Professor Rosin, the machine brings Barbados in line with international standards for delivering radiotherapy.

“The way of delivering radiotherapy for the last 30, 35, probably 40 years, the world has used linear accelerators,” he told Barbados TODAY. “Here in Barbados, they were using cobalt radiation… finally they have got a linear accelerator, which is highly specific in how it gives the radiation.”

He explained that while the equipment represents a significant upgrade, it also requires specialised training to operate effectively. As a result, experts are being brought in to train radiologists.

“The trouble is it’s quite difficult to actually run, so they’re bringing out people to teach the radiologists here how to do it,” Professor Rosin noted. “Once that’s up and going, it’ll make a huge difference to radiation treatment here.”

Despite the improved technology, Rosin expressed deep concern about low screening rates, especially among men.

He said early detection remains the most critical factor in improving cancer survival.

“It really gets me quite annoyed actually when I find, and especially here in Barbados… that men especially do not come forward to be screened,” he said. “If you’re screened for almost all cancers and you get the disease early, it’s eminently treatable without nasty surgery, physio, chemotherapy [or] radiotherapy if it’s diagnosed at stage one in the beginning.”

He stressed that the majority of cancers can be successfully treated if caught early.

“Probably about 70 per cent of cancers are curable. That’s a fact,” he said, adding that early diagnosis significantly increases survival chances.

Professor Rosin also noted that family history can place individuals at greater risk. “Twenty per cent of all cancers are due to inheritance, so if you have somebody in your family, it’s even more important that you are screened because you’ve got a good chance of getting the disease,” he explained.

Addressing national cancer trends, Rosin pointed out that prostate cancer remains the most common cancer in Barbados, despite men accounting for only half of the population. Colon cancer ranks second, followed closely by breast cancer.

“In Barbados, the commonest cancer is prostate cancer. Second is colon cancer and then third is breast cancer,” he said.

“All three of these cancers are curable if diagnosed early.” Professor Rosin was speaking at the Barbados Cancer Society’s raffle prize presentation ceremony.

The presentation formed part of the society’s ongoing fundraising efforts to support cancer care and awareness.

Professor Rosin expressed gratitude to donors for their continued support.

“We’re very appreciative once again to our donors and their continued support.

This would not have been possible without you,” he said. “This year’s grand cash prize of $25 000 is compliments of the Barbados Cancer Society itself.”

This year’s first prize winner was Rebekuh Wood. Andrew King placed second, winning a weekend for two at the Southern Palms Hotel, while Christina Johnson received the third prize, a weekend for two at the Radisson Hotel.

(SB)