By LARA PICKFORD GORDON Monday, October 5 2009

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A SENIOR executive of Republic Bank has lamented the problem of “serious promiscuity” in the society as she made a link between lifestyle and cancer in TT.

Speaking at the Republic Bank/TT Cancer Society (TTCS) press conference at Republic’s head office Park Street, General Manager Group Marketing Anna-Maria Garcia-Brooks said in many countries, particularly developing countries like TT the increase in diagnosed cases and deaths was “largely due to lifestyle choices”. These include tobacco use, alcohol consumption, choice of diet and low physical activity.

In addition to heredity and genetic predispositions, she said lifestyle has emerged as a primary risk factor for cancer.

Garcia-Brooks said despite the work of organisations such as the Cancer Society and Family Planning Association “there is a serious problem of promiscuity in our society, particularly among young people. And this promiscuity increases the risk of some cancers such as cervical cancer.”

She said research has shown that many cancers were preventable, if lifestyle issues were addressed.

The Republic Bank official illustrated the severity of the cancer situation with statistics from the Dr Elizabeth Quamina National Cancer Registry which indicated that prostate cancer was the most diagnosed, and leading cause of cancer death in the country.

Between 2000 and 2005, 2,506 men were diagnosed with cancer and 1,636 died. For the same period there were 1,797 persons diagnosed and 828 deaths from breast cancer among men and women. It was the second most diagnosed cancer.

Garcia-Brooks noted that the data did not include persons who sought diagnosis and treatment abroad. She said the figures were indicative of the need for more and improved information, and desperate need for more oncology centres, trained oncologists and related medical professionals to provide service. At present cancer is the third leading cause of death in TT after heart disease and diabetes. Republic has donated $200,000 to support two events hosted by the TTCS for Cancer Awareness Month — Edufest (October 20, Lions Civic Centre/ October 22 Dwight York Stadium) and Walk for Life (October 31, Queen’s Park Savannah).

Garcia-Brooks said the mass media will be used to educate and heighten public awareness. Reducing susceptibility and preventing the onset of cancer, regular testing, and screening will be emphasised. She said with the “alarmingly early age” youths were becoming sexually active and also having multiple sexual partners it was recommended that young girls have pap smears at an earlier age.

Chairman of the TTCS Dr George Laquis said there were only two ways to reduce the incidence of cancer – prevention and early detection. He said partners like Republic were needed since public education campaigns were extremely expensive to fund. “We cannot make a dent in cancer with a massive public education programme.”

Edufest will be targeting secondary school students however, Laquis believes education should start sooner.

Speaking during the question and answer session he said, education should start even from kindergarten. “It is said dietary habits tend to be established in the first five years of life. We obviously need to intervene earlier than we are doing now.”