People in Jersey are being encouraged to talk about cancer ‘without fear’ to mark World Cancer Day.
An awareness event was held at Jersey Library on Wednesday, with charities including Jersey Hospice Care, Macmillan Jersey and Jersey Cancer Relief taking part, working with government and private services to share information.
Melinda Tidy, 40, was diagnosed with colon cancer in 2022 and advised her family to talk to loved ones with cancer “like normal people.” “We’re just ordinary people trying to get through a very difficult time.”
Dr Elizabeth Gomez dos Santos, clinical lead for cancer services, called on people to “be more open and discuss cancer without fear”.
She said it was important to “keep the message flowing throughout the year.”
“Let’s see what cancer looks like.”
Lorna Pirozzolo, founder of Cancer.je, which shares tips from patients, said the website “helps me feel less alone, which is what World Cancer Awareness Day is about, to help people feel connected.”
Pirozolo, who has incurable breast cancer, said that while screening and self-checking are essential, it is also important to raise awareness of the disease.
She added: ‘One of the important things is to know what cancer is like.
“There are still really scary things going on and everyone thinks cancer patients look bald and weak, but that’s not really the case.
“I work every day, yet I have incurable cancer.”
Dr. Elisabeth Gómez dos Santos encouraged islanders to be open about cancer [BBC]
Meanwhile, Ms Tidy underwent three months of chemotherapy to shrink a local tumor in her intestine, followed by a 14-hour operation to remove it at Southampton Hospital and now has two stoma bags.
Almost three years later, she said: “Everyday life is great. I never thought I would be able to sit down, so I feel very lucky to be able to sit here now.
“The bag requires a lot of management, but I’m dealing with it and living the best life I can because I’m so grateful to be here.”
She added: “I’ve learned that I’m very adaptable and resilient. I don’t sweat the small stuff. I try not to waste energy worrying because it doesn’t get me anywhere and it’s a waste of energy.”
She advised people undergoing cancer treatment to “be kind to themselves and take each day as it comes” and encouraged friends and family to talk to patients about “normal things”.
Gomez dos Santos encouraged women over 50 to contact the testing department to make an appointment if they have not yet received an invitation.
She said: “All cancers diagnosed early are treatable.”
She said Jersey currently had three screening programs for bowel, breast and cervical cancer, and the team was researching lung cancer and prostate screening programs in Europe.
Her advice to Islanders to reduce their chances of cancer was: “It’s all about the little things: eat healthier, walk more, stop smoking.”
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