A newly released report has revealed that the rates of cancer in Barbados remain higher than the global average, with breast, prostate, and colorectal cancers among the most common and deadliest.
These latest findings from the Barbados National Registry (BNR) revealed that nearly 1,000 Barbadians were diagnosed with cancer each year during the period 2013 and 2022. There were 983 new cases recorded in 2022 alone, affecting approximately one in every 300 people on the island.
Leading causes
Prostate cancer accounts for nearly half of all cancers diagnosed among men, while breast cancer was leading among women. Colorectal cancer remans a leading cause of illness and death among both sexes.
According to the report, although slightly more women are diagnosed with cancer overall, men experience higher rates of the illness, largely driven by prostate cancer.
Dr. Christina Howitt, Principal Investigator of the BNR also raised concern that too many cases are being diagnosed at a late stage, when treatment is more difficult and survival rates are lower.
“When cancer is found early, treatment is more effective, survival is higher, and the impact on families and the health system is much lower. Early detection really does save lives,” Dr. Howitt said.
A particularly concerning discovery is that in 2022, more people were first diagnosed only after their cancer had already spread to other parts of the body – the highest level observed in nine ears. This suggests that many patients are entering the health system later in the course of their illness, limiting treatment options and increasing pressure on health services.
The data shows modest survival rates, with approximately two-thirds of patients surviving the first year after diagnosis, and fewer than half still alive five years later.
While lung cancer is relatively uncommon in Barbados, it remains one of the leading causes of cancer-related deaths, reflecting how difficult it is to treat when diagnosed late.
“With an ageing population, we are likely to see more people needing cancer care in the years ahead,” Dr. Howitt added. “This makes it even more important that we strengthen screening, improve access to diagnosis, and ensure that patients can receive timely treatment.”
Recommendations
The report recommended several steps that should be taken to improve prevention, care and survival rates, including the expansion and strengthening screening for breast, prostate, and colorectal cancers, and reducing delays in diagnosis by improving access to tests, scans, and specialist care.
The BNR also called for continued investment in strong cancer surveillance to guide national policy, and an increase in health-system capacity to meet the needs of an ageing population.
Another recommendation is the promotion of healthy lifestyles, including physical activity, good nutrition, and tobacco control.
Professor Simon Anderson, Co-Principal Investigator of the BNR added: “If we want to change cancer outcomes and increase survivorship in Barbados, we must also focus upstream – by equipping primary care teams and communities to identify risk and respond early, long before patients require complex or emergency care.”
The report was released ahead of the observance of World Cancer Day on February 4.
