LUNG cancer is the second most common cancer worldwide. Although there aren’t any statistics on the number of cancer deaths attributed to lung cancer in T&T, back in 2017 it was cited as the second most common cancer in this country. There is nothing to suggest that anything has changed between then and now.

That’s why education is so important, said physician and chairwoman at the Trinidad and Tobago Cancer Society (TTCS) Dr Asante Le Blanc. In the lead-up to World No Tobacco Day on May 31, the TTCS will collaborate with Scotiabank to launch a series of educational campaigns during the months of May and June, including their second consecutive virtual lectures on the harmful effects of tobacco smoking and vaping.

These lectures are extremely vital for several reasons, said Le Blanc. Society has known for decades that smoking is dangerous to one’s health, but then came vaping, which the tobacco industry paraded as a healthy and cool alternative to smoking, she added.

With the rise of social media influencers and young activists, the medical doctor and certified herbalist hopes the lectures will spark a chain reaction among youths and their peers.

“Cancer is a lifestyle disease. Knowing that young people will hopefully become the leaders of our country and our communities, it’s important to educate them and their peers about the harmful effects of smoking and vaping and to help them combat peer pressure and build self-awareness when it comes to their health. We are at a pivotal moment where we can introduce to younger ones, healthier lifestyles and the importance of prevention versus cure,” said Le Blanc

The issue of cancer statistics in T&T is being remedied slowly, said Le Blanc. TTCS is working with the Government to ensure that the cancer registry is back up.

“Most importantly we need to have legislation that allows for mandatory reporting of cancers and other NCDs; only then can we have a true picture of what is happening concerning cancer,”she added.

At the moment, if someone is diagnosed with cancer at a private institution, it is not mandatory for the institution to report it. Therefore the statistics that are on record as it relates to cancer are from the public health sector, not the private sector. But even as they await up-to-date statistics, Le Blanc and her colleagues have observed more lifestyle diseases including lung cancers and lung issues because of smoking and vaping.

“What’s alarming is that up to 2017, lung cancer was at number two, from our clinical observation we’re not seeing a change and that is the problem. I’m either seeing a slight increase or stagnation of incidence rates and that means our work is not done.”