TRAFFIC along Peter Rose Street, Queenstown, was briefly interrupted on Thursday by a sight that could cause no anger as scores of students in pink marched through Queenstown from the Josel Education Institute to the Seventh-Day Adventist Church Headquarters to show their solidarity with Breast Cancer survivors.
In what could be titled ‘300 Pink and strong,’ the Institute yesterday honoured the courage of two breast cancer survivors whose stories are an example of how swift action in getting tested could make the world of difference in warding off unnecessary harm.
“It is Breast Cancer awareness month and we have a Breast Cancer Awareness Day,” school Headmaster Will Campbell said, while speaking with this publication. “We refer to it as pink day where our students wear pink for a cause.”
The school reportedly had two such observances in the past where “they [the students] contributed between $200.00 to $500.00, and all those funds are donated to two breast cancer patients to help to fund their treatment.”
The Institute has collaborated with the Periwinkle Cancer Club in bringing some financial assistance to two deserving candidates. Speaking with a representative from the Periwinkle Cancer Club who chose to remain anonymous, the representative said that students often pool their monies by sacrificing their lunch in the hope of being part of a greater cause.
“The Periwinkle Cancer Society would nominate two persons to receive the donations.” The names of those persons were provided; however this reporter reserves the right to withhold the names of those honoured since there was no permission requested to publish the names.
The Periwinkle Cancer Club was set up in October 2006 as a network for breast and cervical cancer survivors. The focus group similarly serves persons with an interest in supporting cancer patients to meet freely for discussions on health and related experiences.
The representative from the Periwinkle Society did confirm however that one of the recipients has been a survivor of breast cancer for close to 20 years, while the other has been a survivor for three years, after swift action had led to their early treatment. Both recipients receive treatment at the Cancer Institute in the Georgetown Public Hospital Corporation (GPHC) compound.
With a population of 350, students of the Josel Educational Institute were gathered in the annex of the Seventh Day Adventist Church Headquarters, Queenstown wearing pink in solidarity with those honoured and the thousands of other survivors of an ailment that has been termed “the silent killer.”
Breast Cancer Awareness Month 2014 was celebrated from October 1 and ended yesterday.
However, the awareness should not be confined by a calendar. Persons are advised to conduct self-examinations or visit the local Cancer Institute at the GPHC compound, Lamaha and East Streets.
The Cancer Institute conducts mammograms for women aged 40 and over, while those under the age of 40 are subject to ultrasound examinations. This was confirmed by Associate Oncologist at the Cancer Institute, Dr. Radhu Ravendranath, who advised that persons with a family history of breast cancer be checked as soon as possible.
Persons can contact the Cancer Institute during working hours at 225-5701, after which an appointment will be made to see a specialist.
(By Derwayne Wills)
