MANDEVILLE, Jamaica — The Ministry of Health and Wellness is encouraging individuals to get early cancer screenings.

According to a news release on Friday, Cancer Programme Development Officer in the ministry, Dr Gail Evering Kerr, reiterated the call while delivering the keynote address during the Manchester Health Department’s World Cancer Prevention and Awareness Day event on Thursday.

She maintained that “cancer affects all of us”; consequently, “that is why we need to screen.”

“Another thing we want to change is the ‘watch it’ culture where, [if] we don’t feel good… we watch it and see… or [if] my doctor says my pap smear is not good… I’m going to watch it and see,” Dr Evering Kerr said.

“Cancer just continues to grow and spread if we just watch it; we want to get it before it spreads. As soon as you sense anything, come in and get screened. Cancer is the second leading cause of deaths overall in Jamaica, and most of the cancers can be prevented,” she continued.

According to the Global Cancer Observatory, in 2022 approximately 4,000 people lost their lives to cancer. The top-five cancers were prostate, breast, colon, lung and cervical cancer.

“We have a screening programme for four of those five, so nobody needs to die,” she emphasised, adding that the earlier cancer testing and treatment starts, the better the outcome will be.

Against this background, Dr Kerr urged individuals to “come in, get early screening, stop watching it and start intervention early”, adding that “getting screened and detected early means that lives will be saved.”

Citing two examples, she told the audience that the Human Papillomavirus (HPV) vaccination can help to eliminate cervical cancer, “if at least 90 per cent of our girls are vaccinated against it.” Additionally, Dr  Kerr said avoiding smoking and alcohol use can aid in reducing the incidence of lung and breast cancer.