Support That Goes Beyond The Diagnosis

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NASSAU, THE BAHAMAS – Cancer is a diagnosis that can turn a family’s world upside down and for many Bahamians, the fight doesn’t end with the diagnosis.

The cost of treatment, travel and other expenses can add another layer of stress, particularly for patients coming from the Family islands.

But one organization has been working to make that journey a little easier, offering support, education, financial relief and for Family Island patients to have a place to stay while they receive treatment.

Our Chinasa Outten takes a closer look at the work of the cancer society of The Bahamas.

The battle against cancer is not just about fighting the disease for many families, it’s also about finding the support to get through it.

The Cancer Society of The Bahamas has been there for people across the country living with various types of this horrid disease for 50 years.

And some may not fully understand the depth of that work.

The World Health Organization’s Global Cancer Observatory estimates that The Bahamas records about 1,116 new cancer cases each year, with an estimated 525 cancer deaths annually.

And as the cost of living continues to rise, cancer treatment has not become any more affordable.

That’s where the Cancer Society steps in – providing support, education and financial relief to patients.

But one of its services goes even further, opening its doors to Family Island patients who have to travel to the capital for treatment.

President of the Cancer Society of the Bahamas Rochelle Wilkinson says their new $5M expansion of the Cancer Caring Center will add 10 rooms to house these patients.

She tells us how this vision came about.

“So at the moment, we’re pretty much running at full house most of the time. And how we got to this project was because prior to COVID, not only were we always at capacity, we always had a waiting list. And so, you know, waiting list means somebody who may not get to get here to do their treatment.”

Lending support is one thing but the Cancer Society is also pushing education, encouraging Bahamians to take early detection and intervention seriously.

Breast and prostate cancer may be among the most commonly diagnosed cancers here in The Bahamas but board member Stacy Campbell Marshall says another cancer is also on the rise among both men and women.

“Colorectal cancer here in the Bahamas is the second most diagnosed cancer. So that means as Bahamians, we need to really be paying attention, and the beautiful thing, if there’s something beautiful about it, is that early detection is key.”

And while the word cancer can be frightening, Wilkinson says one of the most important things people can do is simply pay attention to their health and get checked.

“Do those tests whenever you can, as often as you can, and don’t ignore the symptoms. You know, we tend to kind of just say, Oh, it’ll go away. It doesn’t go away. It gets worse.”

Early detection can make a difference and the Cancer Society is working to make sure Bahamians have not only the information but the support they need when that fight begins.