THE Rotary Club of the University of Guyana last Saturday held its Business Meeting which included a “Pink-It-Up” presentation in observance of ‘Breast Cancer Awareness Month’, currently being observed.

As part of the agenda which accommodated two guest lecturers, members benefited from scholarly presentations by Dr. Rhaguran Ravindranath, Oncologist of the Cancer Institute of Guyana, and Dr. Marilyn Trotz of the University of Guyana.
Dr. Ravindranauth’s presentation was on: ‘The Battle Against Cancer’ while Dr. Trotz spoke on: ‘Proposal Writing and (Meeting) Minute Taking’.
In a telling 45-minute presentation, Dr. Ravindranauth (Ravi) stressed that the fight against cancer is one of the biggest battles being fought. He outlined the nature of the disease, which is one of the leading causes of death globally, and which continues to claim lives astronomically. But early detection and treatment is the key to saving lives, he emphasized.
Noting that cancer has no specific symptoms, Dr. Ravi said that because people are generally reluctant to voluntarily have themselves screened for cancer, invariably, it is too late when they are eventually diagnosed. By that time, the patient

may have entered the second or third stage of the disease which makes it more difficult to manage.
EARLY TESTING
“If they come with no symptoms, that is the time we can diagnose, treat and cure,” Dr. Ravi said, as he urged those gathered to zero-in on the opportunities available for early testing in Guyana. Invariably people present with tiredness, fever, pains, loss of weight, but there are no specific symptoms, the oncologist said.
The most prevalent types of cancers in Guyana, he said, are breast cancer, cervical cancer and lung cancer, with breast cancer constituting the leading cause of death. Against this backdrop he urged that persons – both men and women get screened for breast cancer and not wait until it is too late. The two methods being employed are mammogram and ultra sound. He also encouraged breast self-examination for teenagers, noting that examination of the breast has saved lives in 50- 69 per cent of cases of where cancers were present.
MALE BREAST CANCER
Contrary to common belief, Dr. Ravi said men too are affected with breast cancer and he outlined the implications. Testing for breast cancer can be done at the National Cancer Institute located in the compound of the Georgetown Public Hospital. And for the detection of cervical cancer, apart from being done at the Cancer Institute, the Ministry of Health has a countrywide programme – the Visual Inspection with Acetic Acid (VIA), which has proven very effective.
He examined the implications for the development and spread of cancer in people. Dr. Ravi, who said that cancer is a class of disease characterized by ‘out-of-control’ cell growth or abnormal cell division, outlined that cancer harms the body when damaged cells divide uncontrollably to form lumps or masses of tissue. He also touched on and presented graphics on inflammatory cancer, a rare, serious and aggressive form of breast cancer. Inflammatory breast cancer is considered the most dangerous form of cancer, the oncologist said.
He said that engaging in a healthy lifestyle would help to prevent cancer. He offered such tips as:
* Diet (include fruits and vegetables in your diet). Quit using red meats as you advance in age since your hormones are not sufficiently healthy to digest red meats then.
* Engage in lots of exercise
* Avoid smoking
* Abstain from drinking alcohol
* Have safe sex. Do not have multiple partners. Avoid becoming sexually active too early. Cervical cancer is now listed as a sexually transmitted disease, Dr. Ravi added.