Cancer

Cancer is the world’s second leading cause of death. It is an overarching term that describes uncontrollable cell growth that spreads to areas around the body different to where the growth originated. Several classes of diseases fall under cancer types. These include sarcoma, lymphoma and leukemia. Barbados placed eighth in the top ten countries with the highest colorectal cancer incidence rate, along with second and fifth in prostate cancer mortality and incidence rates respectively on the global scale. The Barbados National Registry (BNR) for Chronic Non-Communicable Diseases’ annual cancer report for 2022 saw increased mortality rates between 2020 and 2021 among prostate, breast, colorectal, endometrial and pancreatic cancers. Prostate and breast cancers continue to be most prevalent in men and women respectively; however, men constitute the higher number of persons diagnosed with cancer. Of annual deaths in the island, 25% of those are related to cancer. Between 2013 and 2019, approximately 45% of those cancer-related deaths are due to breast, prostate and colorectal cancers. Additionally, males between 65 and 69 years and women 55 years and over have had steadily increased incidence cancer rates, likely due to the aging population in Barbados.

Traditional cancer treatment usually suppresses immune function by lowering white blood cell count which increases one’s susceptibility to infections. It also takes a mental and physical toll on persons, resulting in side effects like nausea and vomiting, cognitive impairment and hair loss. Family and friends are often sad, anxious, enraged or worried watching their loved ones suffer, in addition to funding treatment which regularly becomes a financial burden. While cancer is considered a genetic disease, meaning that changes made to genes affect cell function, external factors like excessive alcohol consumption, tobacco use, pollution, physical inactivity, as well as prolonged exposure to harmful chemicals and radiation are leading developmental factors of cancer as well.