REPORT

To: Ms. Pullen

From: Akeem Cohall

CANCER IN THE CARIBBEAN
Cancer known medically as a malignant neoplasm, is a broad group of diseases involving
unregulated cell growth. In cancer, cells divide and grow uncontrollably, forming malignant
tumors, and invading nearby parts of the body. The cancer may also spread to more distant parts
of the body through the lymphatic system or bloodstream.
Some of the different types of cancers include Oral cavity and mouth, Colon and Rectum,
Pancreas, Lung and Bronchus, Endometrium and Corpus Uteri, Ovary, Prostate, Non-Hodgkins,
lymphomas and Leukemia.
Some of the factors that lead to cancer include, a Genetic factor, which means that some type of
cancer runs in the family. The other one is the smoking of cigarettes, and this can lead to cancer
as well as for non-smokers just by them inhaling the smoke. Too much penetration of the sun
rays in the skin, this may lead to skin cancer. Another factor is the diet and physical activity, now
this has to do with the excess amount of body weight and also the frequent amount of alcohol
intake in the body.
Some of the treatment for cancer includes, Surgery, Surgery can be used to diagnose, treat, or
even help prevent cancer in some cases. Another one is Chemotherapy; Chemotherapy (chemo)
is the use of medicines or drugs to treat cancer. Another treatment is Photodynamic therapy; this
is a treatment that uses special drugs, called photosensitizing agents, along with light to kill

Akeem Cohall Report

cancer cells. The VA Caribbean Healthcare is a facility that treats cancer in the Caribbean and is
located in Puerto Rico. The ratio between incidence rates and mortality was 2:1, for both fiveyear periods for males and females.

Stages of cancer include, Stage 0, this is the stage where the cancer is in place but have not yet
invaded in the surrounding tissues. Stage 1, this is the stage where the primary tumor is small
invasive into the surrounding tissues and has not yet spread. Stage 2, this is the stage where the
primary tumor is larger but still no clinical evidence of spread. Stage 3, this is the stage where
the tumor has spread to lymph glands. The last stage is stage 4, this is when the cancer has
spread beyond the region where it initiated to the distant tissue or organ.

Cuba has the most deaths of cancer with 1979 deaths, while Bahamas has the least with 37
deaths.
Some of the ways to prevent cancer diet (food), this can be done by basically eating a healthy
diet, exercising more often on a frequent basis and limiting the amount of alcohol intake in the
body. Some of the signs of detecting cancer are, in its early stages, cancer may have no
symptoms, but eventually a malignant tumor will grow large enough to be detected. As it
continues to grow, it may press on nerves and produce pain, penetrate blood vessels and cause
bleeding, or interfere with the function of a body organ or system.

Akeem Cohall Report

BIBLIOGRAPHY
http://www.nhs.uk/Livewell/preventing-cancer/Pages/diet-and-cancer.aspx

https://www.google.com.jm/search?q=recorded+deaths+of+cancer+in+the+caribbean+between+
2008-2013

Akeem Cohall Report