BY INGRID BROWN Associate editor - special assignment browni@jamaicaobserver.com Tuesday, January 06, 2015
AS many as 25 children are diagnosed with cancer each year, reflecting an increase over previous years that is proving worrisome for health officials.
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| Dr Michelle Ann Richards-Dawson (right), senior medical officer at Bustamante Hospital for Children, talks with young cancer patient Lloyd DaCosta, his mother Annalease, and LIME Foundation Executive Director Errol Miller after yesterday’s Jamaica Observer Monday Exchange. (PHOTO: NAPHTALI JUNIOR) |
"In one particular year we got a 30 per cent increase in brain tumours, and that is very concerning," Senior Medical officer (SMO) at Bustamante Hospital for Children Dr Michelle Ann Richards-Dawson admitted yesterday.
The SMO, who was on a panel of guests at the weekly Jamaica Observer Monday Exchange at the newspaper's Beechwood Avenue head office, said they started tracking the statistics in 2006.
The panel was assembled to discuss the issue ahead of LIME Foundation's 6k Run-Walk scheduled for January 18 at which funds will be raised to help treat children with cancer.
Not only has there been an increase in the number of young patients being treated for the disease, but Dr Richards-Dawson said there are instances where they have lost track of children with cancer as they are unable to locate them for treatment.
"There is a number out there that we can't account for, so that is part of our mandate as well, to keep a tight rein on all our patients... So if they can't come into Bustamante, then we meet them at the nearest hospital to ensure they can still get their treatment," she explained.
Dr Richards-Dawson said there is no clear, scientific proof as to what is causing the increase in cancer cases, although there are many theories. more
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