Prioritise cancer! Why does a small population have so many cases?
At least two legislators in the BVI have publicly called on the territory to shift greater focus toward cancer research, amid concerns of rising cancer cases and a growing need to understand underlying causes.
Speaking in a recent interview with JTV, At-Large Representative Stacy ’Budda’ Mather urged the BVI to move beyond treatment alone and invest in research within the territory.
“We’re seeing a lot of cases and we’ve given a lot of service to it but we should put out a clarion call to BVIslanders who are in the research world to perhaps consider coming back home and doing some studies on what is causing it,” Mather stated.
He mentioned one theory linked to bottled water among other environmental considerations.
“I think it’s time that we dig into it… this is where health services need to be, not just about treating, but we also need to be about preventing,” he added.
Meanwhile, Opposition Leader Myron Walwyn echoed the urgency of the need for research and prevention.
“It also has to do with priorities as well. We find money to get studies done for almost everything under the sun here… But something like this is important. We need to figure out why a small country of 30,000 people has so many cancer cases. It’s an urgent matter.”
He stressed that while treatment is necessary when cancer appears, the territory must also seek to identify causes so that preventive measures can be taken.
“Within a small society… even though you’re not family by blood, you’re family by friendship, by interaction, and whatever happens to one family happens to the other. So we all face it every day.”
Recent local data support the concern
According to a report by the National Health Insurance (NHI), 462 cancer cases were recorded between 2016 and 2022 — averaging 41 new cases annually, with as many as 74 cases in 2022.
Health sector officials have noted that the apparent rise may reflect improved access to care and reporting, but emphasize that cancer remains a significant burden.
October is observed as Breast Cancer Awareness Month. In the BVI, health professionals and community organisations have planned several events to bring attention to the disease, which has claimed many lives across the territory.
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I was by Andys and watch a mother buy a few box of chicken and fries for the children and self. Proceed to put on a ton of ketchup and mayo smh. Yea the general public lazy to prepare own food or seek healthier alternatives. I say people die everyday so get on with it the rest of us trying to live.
Fries is the world 4th most deadly food. Potato chips is #1
We need to go back to less sugar, fried foods and refined carbohydrates.
We also need more nutrient dense foods or methylated suppliments
Its obviously the Covid Vaccines. Notice that the spike started after the pandemic.
The report contains data gathered from 2016-2022, vaccines weren’t available in the BVI until 2021. 74 cases in 2022 cannot be attributed to a vaccine when there was already a trend established from 2016 amounting to 388 cases prior.
Is this a joke? IT IS THE FOOD AND LIFESTYLE!!! For every ache, people are popping pills. The food is filled with fake pumped up nonsense. Nobody is doing any physical activity, people are overly stressed out trying to live a life that they see on social media, and the list goes on and on. All they are telling you is do not smoke and drink alcohol and you will be well but look at the ones who are getting sick. The fight is as much mental as it is physical but again, we have more Churches, Pharmacies and Dr. offices/Medical Facilities per capita than probably anywhere else in the world but are the sickest. ‘Food’ for thought! 🙂
Open burning at pockwood pond and cheap bottled water
…and processed foods, juice drinks, carbonated drinks, genetic mutations, tobacco smoke, certain chemicals, pollution, alcohol consumption, obesity and lack of physical exercise…..
Let’s see…….
#1 raw sewage thrown in the sea, people swim, and fish
#2 pollution from incinerator
#3 plastic bottles
#4 gramason and other chemicals to clear land and plant food, the poisons go right into the food.
#5 open burning in yards dumping in rubber tires, plastic ect.
#6 fast foods, junk food and alcohol
#7 exhaust from all the large trucks that do not maintain them properly
#8 improper disposal of vehicle and boat fluids.
#9 sewage leaking on roadways and sidewalks
I am sure people can add to this.
There are US cooperations and billionaires who are coompletely comomitted to world depopulation,(in theyir favor) has been sickening and killing for decades, because people of color around the world are weak and defenseless, yet the trail of evidence is there.
In respect to all the comments in what maybe contributing to cancer causing factors this maybe the cause to some cases.
There were numbers of death related cases before the COVID pandemic. A study via BVIHSA should have been taking place, especially in areas where more than two or deaths were recorded. As for prostate cancer, don’t know the cause,but the ignorance of most men not wanting to be thoroughly exam leads to the cancer’s progression beyond treatment.
I concur. But one question; why not ask the farmers and fisher folks who got gwop for producing how much pounds of seafood, poultry, meats, fresh fruits and veggies that are produced LOCALLY!
That’s the VIPers way! We sluxxin’ down too much poison from imported foods while our local agriculture goes to sh!te….
Would you if told your device privacy is beng breached at will each ime you post a comment believe?
Most of the population eat ultra-processed food and lots of fried food.
Also exercise is rare and not really stimulated (and I am not talking about some rare 5k walks raising funds for something where, at the end, people eat bad food and drink sugary drinks)!
Our population need to eat better and be more active. People drive instead of walking a few blocks!
High consumption of processed foods, sugar and fat is responsible for a large number of cases.
If the Government has a strict tax policy for these items, it will help reduce consumption.
Other habits seem harmless, but they also contribute to the disease, such as cars running and parked all day to keep the air conditioning running, emitting pollutants. Cars without proper maintenance (manufacture’s year is not the most important) emitting pollutants. Use of inappropriate materials, such as Styrofoam.
Beyond all the comments about food, pollution, and habits, we have to recognize that there is a lack of experts and equipment to help with prevention.
When people spending their “own money” you cannot tell them s**t about what to eat and drink. That life is real.
Why we don’t need to be concerned about “their” cancer Mr. Hill. If you die you die simple.
The prosperity of eating American junk food as a more affluent country, ain’t bothering with grandma garden vegetables, we purchasing GMO instead.
Everything Americanized is view as good, I bet you the young people wants the BVI flooded with mcDonald’s and Kentucky.