Low Test Returns Hampering Fight Against Preventable Cancer
April 2, 2026
Seventy-five per cent of Barbadians given free at-home colorectal cancer screening kits are not using them, a situation health officials have warned is a challenge in the fight against the deadly yet preventable disease.
They suggest the low return rate is contributing to missed opportunities for early detection, which allows the cancer to go unnoticed until it reaches more advanced stages.
Between 2022 and 2026, the Caribbean Colon Cancer Initiative (CCCI) distributed 1,500 of the non-invasive faecal immunochemical test (FIT) kits. However, only one in four recipients completed and returned them.
The CCCI data also revealed that, among the kits that were returned, a substantial proportion produced positive results, which indicates that the programme is successfully identifying individuals who require further medical assessment. However, officials caution that these figures reflect programme-level data and are not representative of national screening positivity rates.
Individuals with a family history of the disease may require additional screening. Risk factors include low-fibre diets, high consumption of processed foods, obesity, smoking and environmental influences.
Colorectal cancer is among the leading causes of cancer incidence and death worldwide, according to the World Health Organization and the International Agency for Research on Cancer.
In Barbados, the disease remains among the top three cancers in the country and is frequently diagnosed at a late stage.
Data from the Barbados National Registry (BNR) show that more than 130 cases were recorded in 2022.
“Our data show this clearly: colorectal cancer is common in Barbados and too often detected late,” said Dr. Christina Howitt, Principal Investigator at the BNR. “Earlier diagnosis is one of the most effective ways we can improve outcomes.”
Professor David Rosin of the Barbados Cancer Society emphasised the urgency: “Barbados has one of the highest incidences worldwide. It has a high rate of late diagnosis, greater than 60 per cent in some studies. This is largely due to cancers being detected too late,” he said.
Dr Sahle Griffith, former Medical Director of the CCCI, underscored the importance of data-driven approaches to cancer prevention.
“By strengthening collaboration between clinicians, public health institutions, and community partners, we can generate the evidence needed to guide colorectal cancer prevention and screening strategies,” he said.
Health officials continue to stress a clear message: early detection saves lives.
