Walwyn tackles gov’t about alarming cancer rate
Sixth District Representative Myron Walwyn has inquired about the steps the government is taking amid reports that cancers are on the rise in the BVI.
BVI News broke the story about BVI’s alarming cancer rate in October 2023, with evidence from one oncologist who said her practice alone has diagnosed close to 400 cancer cases in four years.
The story rocked the community, but there has been no formal statement or action from the government since then.
However, in a recent sitting of the House of Assembly, Walwyn asked the Health Minister if the government intends to conduct a study into the high rate and possible causes of cancer in the BVI. Walwyn also asked the Minister to state why nothing has been done to date and when the government intends to take action.
In response, Health Minister Vincent Wheatley admitted that there is no plan to conduct a study into the causes and high cancer rate. But he said efforts are underway to improve tracking and surveillance, which will provide more useful information than a study.
“My ministry has not commissioned a study into cancer deaths in the territory. However, work to improve cancer surveillance and implement a cancer registry is ongoing and will essentially be a better use of resources,” Minister Wheatley said.
He also added that the BVI is working with the Caribbean Public Health Agency (CARPHA) and UK officials to strengthen the surveillance of all non-communicable diseases, including cancers, to ensure the government has ongoing information on these diseases.
In BVI News’ exclusive interview, Oncologist Dr Erole Hobdy explained that myelomas, breast, prostate and colon cancers are the most popular cases on the rise in the BVI.
She also noted that more women are being diagnosed than men, the patients are increasingly becoming younger, and they have been flowing in from the four main islands of the BVI.
When asked to point to possible causes, the physician quickly called out dietary practices of residents in the BVI. She urged residents to reduce their consumption of processed foods.
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Here’s a study – won’t cost much.
Are you vaccinated against COVID-19?
Regulate supermarkets, make sure they bringing quality food items and not just the cheapest processed goods to increase their bottom line. Some supermarkets also store water in plastic bottles out in the sun for hours on end.
FIX THE DOGGONE INCINERATOR AND THE BLASTED SEWAGE……CANCER PROBLEM SOLVED
He is the biggest cancer of all. Since when government responsible for cancer? Each person responsible for their own health.
Another stupidy MS for Representative.
Same way they was responsible for covid.
Frankie, it’s best to keep your mouth shut and let people believe that you may be a fool rather than to open your mouth and remove all doubt. Cancer is a health crisis in this country. I am sure you have lost a family member or friend to cancer. Don’t you think that this is something that a responsible government should look into? Our country will not get better if citizens like you continue to be this foolish.
before the question is asked about what “steps the government is taking amid reports that cancers are on the rise in the BVI” that we know what kind of cancers we are speaking of here.
For an oncologist to say that in their practice close to 400 cancers were diagnosed over a 4 year period without classifying the types of cancers that are being referred paints an incomplete picture of what is going on and needlessly alarming.
Here is the crux of the matter:
Not all cancers are the same, have the same risk factors, treatments, or prognosis.
Cancer is a general term to describe all malignancies.
For example there is a difference between lung, breast, prostate, colon, and cervical cancers.
Their risk factors are all different as well as their treatments and prognosis.
Of those 400 cancers diagnosed in that singular practitioners experience how many were breast cancer, lung cancer, colon cancer or lets say prostate cancer?
That information is important because the government or anyone else for that matter cannot do anything with that number without knowing what they are dealing with.
Lets go thru a few examples. It is known that prostate cancer is found mostly in black men as opposed to other races.
If there are a significant number of men with prostate cancer among that 400 then steps can be taken by the government or practitioners to institute prostate more cancer screening among men.
Another example is colon cancer. We know diet, obesity, and family history contributes to increased colon cancer risk.
Similarly, if there is a significant number of colon cancers among that 400, then recommendations for increased colon cancer screening with colonoscopies can be put in place.
The same with breast cancer whereby if a large percentage of those cancers were breast cancer, recommendations for increased screening with mammograms’ could be recommended.
You get the picture?
The bottom line is this: Stating that there were 400 cancer diagnosis in a singular practitioner’s experience over 4 years is of limited value.
Nothing meaningful can be done without knowing what kind of cancers we are speaking of.
It is prudent that the oncologist who provided this information update the public on what types of cancer they diagnosed in that 4 year period rather than just saying they diagnosed 400 cancers in 4 years.
Remember: Not all cancers are the same. Their causes, risk factors, treatment and prognoses are all different.
While the 400 number of cancers being reported is concerning, knowing what type of cancers that were diagnosed is more important.
With that additional information, a plan of action can be taken to address each and every type of cancers that is being diagnosed.
In order word: Get the data right.
You are 100% correct and this is typical political bulls**t. Nobody has real data but are quick to flap their jaws. If the Cancers being found are linked to bad diets then there’s nothing for Government to do. People need to take responsibility for their health and welfare.
I feel for you if you think that government can’t do any to curb poor diets. For one, the majority of the school’s in the BVI belongs to government, they have the authority to mandate the children are only allowed to bring health snacks and lunches into school.
They could provide a health meal to all school age child for free. While this is an expensive venture it would promote a healthy BVI and reduce the cost of health care in the long run.
Government could build a state of the art gym, with proper exercise equipment, classes and a pool.
Don’t get me started that government can’t do anything. Think before you talk.
How are you going to get the data if you don’t fix the public health department? The know it alls have not a darn thing about the data.
Carcinogenic environment in totality. The foods and beverages of our own choosing for self and family. The air we breathe The poisonous gas emissions of vehicles and incinerator. Look forward to an expanded airport. Airplane fuel emissions have been detetmined to be the most deadly of all
Highlycarcinogenic.. the water…has it ever been tested. How often is it tested,if at all
Cancer treatment is extremely expensive and I’d unaffordable for most here abd abroad. We are not equipped medically for cancer treatments and little else
NHI so far is not a valid success.
We are responsible for our health but the air we breathe for life and which we have
little choice is a killer.
Who force anyone to smoke wether cigarettes or mariguana? Eat Panchie, Neto chicken at home 2am in the morning. Corn pork, jerk pork and chicken cook in a rusty smokey Oil drum. Need I say more. Check your self before you wreck your self BUT than again the very air we breathing giving us Cancer. Even some people you live next to are Cancerous with their bad mind and dirty ways .
Plastic water bottles is definitely a problem. Sometimes you buy a case and they’re still warm from being in the sun.
STOP EATING F**K!!!!!! It’s amazing everyone is taught don’t drink, don’t smoke etc. and you will be fine, yet the people getting Cancer at alarming rates, especially women are people who do not drink, smoke or do anything but live simple lives. This constant talk talk talk is useless! Who is going to police the food items that are allowed to be imported and sold to the people? We pay lots of lip service but take no responsibility. Nobody wants to take a walk anywhere, eat whatever, whenever, hardly drink water if ever, taking pills for every simple thing and then act surprised when they develop diseases.
Don’t inject unknown substances into your body just because somebody said its “safe and effective”
Reading is very fundamental. Hon. Walwyn asked if the government “intends” to do anything about the cancer issue. Reading through some of these blogs and seeing the silly posts is mind blogging. Hon. Walwyn did not blame the government. He asks if they intend to conduct a study etc in to the issue. A study is in fact required. Some of us what to assume what the problem might be but we need more in-depth analysis and we need the preventative measures as well. Cancer is not always as simple as what you eat. I know people who have been extremely health conscious but still fell victim to this dreadful disease.
people in the isolated BVI are just genetically susceptible to certain cancers. A shake up in the gene pool might solve this problem but with current immigration policies that would take a few centuries.
Its obvious that this government is out touch with reality and the problems that are affecting the community. We have social issuses , health issues, infrustrual issues and government no idea or clue as to how to remedy these problem that is plaguing its people we need an election the people have no confident in this government. We need splutions not talk. Where is the accountabilty water and sewage doing what they want roads grip up with no regards to the motoring public pipe left all over the place making the place look nasty were is the pride in your work .
It seems to me the cancer issue needs to be better defined before determining defined policies. Have cancer incidence rate been established by age and gender and cancer site? Have these incidence rate been compared to similar population? Use data to get insight before deciding the next steps
What I find interesting is that in the midst of all this, NHI now limits women to one pap screening every 3 years unless you have been diagnosed with the disease. Pay attention to the cost saving measure that our government has implemented. I consider it to be an attack on women’s health. Don’t they know that it is cheaper to screen than to treat an advanced state of cervical cancer?
A lot of bull blogging, but no substance. The mere fact, that we do not know the reason for 400+ cancer diagnosis warrants serious investigation. No amount of money should be spared to get to know the source of this situation. And people get serious, cancer is not political. Alot of our cancer maybe because we are bitter towards each other and especially toward island people. We need to renew our mind and thoughts and ask the master for a new heart. Replace all that muck with agape love and we’ll become a healthier nation.
As much as I think we have the worst government globally…..
Our behaviour is our responsibility.
It is us who decide we have Johnny cakes for breakfast
It is us who decide we have pizza and fried chicken for lunch
It is us who decide we have a bit of crackers and corn flakes for dinner
It is us who decide we go on to drink all the booze in the world a few times a week
It is us who decide only crazy people work out
No vegetables. No fruits. No exercise. No control over our obese bodies.
Yet, we blame the government.
Cancer is at an all high World wide since the mRNA COVID 19 vaccine. The study World wide proves it’s the vaccine. Just look up the News it’s all over news worldwide. People are dying quick they said. They also said the World is depopulating on a rapid speed
Well, actually, smoking dump. Plot the cancer cases on a map and let’s see what environmental issues can be correlated to the cases.
I sincerely believe that the process food and food dyes to make it look appetizing for example do you know steak is not that red color you see, and salmon is not pink but grey, and fales hair has carcinogenic chemicals that you sweat into your bloods stream and thats the reason why they telling you lotion has vitamin because its absorb into your blood, johnson baby powder comes to mind,and the cube seasoning for soup, the microwave oven and on and on, the older people didn’t have that luxury, thats why they live so long.