The month of October is being observed as Breast Cancer Awareness month and there are various activities planned countrywide. On Ambergris Caye the local San Pedro Cancer Society held activities on Saturday October 19th.
The organization is reporting that 66 breast exams were conducted in a joint activity with the Dr Otto Rodriguez San Pedro Poly-Clinic II. In addition, a local food and pastry sale raised $575. In raising awareness about the deadly disease and as a show of support for people who are battling cancer or in remission, the group also invited members of the public to dye their hair pink or shave their head.
According to the Ministry of Health, over the period of 2007-2011, there were a total of 857 cancer deaths in Belize. Almost half of these, 418 of the 857 (48.8%) cases, occurred in persons less than 65 years-of-age. The Ministry of Health reported earlier in 2013 that males and females are equally affected in terms of mortality, with different forms of cancer, accounting for 436 (51%) and 421 (49%) of cancer deaths respectively.
