On November 3^rd, the Ministry of Environment and National Beautification, Green and Blue Economy presented a donation of $1100.20 to the Barbados Cancer Society (BCS) in support of their impactful work with Breast Cancer. The Ministry hosted a fundraising bake sale on October 27^th in Warrens, St. Michael with donations of baked goods from staff members.

The month of October is annually celebrated as Breast Cancer Awareness Month where the colour pink and pink ribbons are often worn in support of people affected by breast cancer. In Barbados, breast cancer is the 2^nd most prevalent cancer, and can occur in both men and women, but it’s far more common in women. Unfortunately, many of us in Barbados and all over the world have been impacted in some way by breast cancer, whether it was a family member, friend or colleague that contracted the disease.

The BCS, a charitable organisation founded in 1990, is dedicated to the prevention and alleviation of pain and suffering from cancer by public education, the promotion of early detection and prompt treatment, and the provision of patient care, support services and sincere counseling. The BCS believes that accurate knowledge about cancer reduces fear caused by the disease, and it can be used to improve its management.

The BCS has several programmes, but most notably has an active Breast Cancer Screening Programme which offers ultrasounds, mammograms, breast exams and biopsies and is dedicated to the prevention of premature deaths from breast cancer by early detection.

Worldwide, substantial support for breast cancer awareness and research funding has helped to create advances in the diagnosis and treatment of breast cancer. Breast cancer survival rates have increased, and the number of deaths associated with this disease is steadily declining, largely due to factors such as earlier detection, a new personalised approach to treatment and a better understanding of the disease.

Everyone is encouraged to donate to the Barbados Cancer Society and other related charities and programmes.