Cancer cases on the rise since pandemic

Dr Nicholas Fox, vice president of the Cancer Society and owner of the Medi Centre Clinic, made the revelation to reporters yesterday.

“As a practising physician, since the pandemic it seems like they all are on the rise. I don’t know if it’s because people were not following up with their physicians. But I’m seeing more breast cancer, a lot of prostate cancer and colon cancer, even a lot of blood cancers like lymphomas, etc,” he said.

“And I don’t know if it’s because of the pandemic, but it seems to be on the rise across the board.”

Currently, Dr Fox said he has found more people are making the effort to follow up with doctor visits and treatments now.

However, he said it is difficult at times to meet the medical needs of patients, especially those in the Family Islands, due to the high demand for healthcare.

“It’s just that there’s so many people trying to follow up that you can’t get to see everybody in a timely fashion. Hence, the system is overwhelmed with all the patients that are coming forth.

“Especially in the Family Islands — I have a practice in one of the Family Islands and it’s kind of overwhelming because everybody now seems to be health conscious and wants to be checked out to ensure that nothing serious is going on.”

Cancer is a leading cause of death worldwide, accounting for nearly 10 million deaths in 2020, reported the World Health Organisation. The disease has affected many families in The Bahamas with some patients having to go through extensive chemotherapy and treatment once diagnosed.

Dr Fox said that since the pandemic, more young people have been diagnosed with cancer, citing in one instance a 22-year-old woman diagnosed with breast cancer.

He stressed: “I am seeing more younger women with breast cancer. I think the youngest one I’ve seen since the pandemic was 22 years old. I’ve never seen one that young before. So yeah, I’m seeing more younger people with cancer.” There has also been a rise in the number of obesity cases in the country, which is a major contributory factor to cancer. Dr Fox added that some people who are diagnosed with cancer are also suffering with multiple diseases such as diabetes and high blood pressure. Additionally, as a cancer survivor himself, Dr Fox said he understands that treatment can be extremely expensive.

He explained that many people cannot afford treatment, do not have access, or simply prefer natural remedies.

Dr Fox continued:

“Sometimes, because of the amount of patients that are receiving chemotherapy the drugs are not always available in a timely fashion. And you have people missing therapy, sometimes people can’t get therapy because their cells dropped too low and we have to wait. So, there are many factors that contribute to people not getting treatment, but the treatments are available.”

During the press conference, he urged the public to support the Cancer Society’s 21st annual ball at the Imperial Ballroom, Atlantis, Paradise Island, on May 27.

The proceeds of the ball will assist with the cancer caring centre that aids the treatment of many Family Island patients.

Dr Fox said many Family Islanders who travel to New Providence for treatment often do not have a place to stay. Hence, the proceeds will help in creating more rooms at the centre for patients.