Health Educator in the Ministry of Health on Nevis Shirley Wilkes

June 9 -- Health Educator in the Ministry of Health on Nevis Shirley Wilkes urged Nevisians to take advantage of colon cancer screenings scheduled for June 21-25 at the Alexandra Hospital.

According to Wilkes, the screenings will be provided by Dr. Spencer Amory who is of Nevisian parentage and works as a clinical professor at the Department of Surgery, Colombia University in New York, USA.

“You are encouraged to get the screening done if you are over the age of 45 - One risk factor for colon cancer is increasing age. Studies have shown that most persons develop colon cancer after age 50- ; if you have been referred by your doctor; if you are known to have polyps (growths) in the colon (large intestine).

“Although most polyps are non cancerous, if they are left alone they can eventually become into cancer; if you have problems with constipation [or if you have] a family history of cancer of the colon or a personal history of any type of cancer,” she said.

The Health Educator indicated that the scheduled examinations would be the third time Dr. Amory conducted them on patients in Nevis with the first in June 2008 and the second in August 2009.

“Dr. Amory’s services are free however, since the procedure (colonoscopy) would be done at the theatre at the [Alexandra] Hospital, there is a fee for each colonoscopy done.

“Persons are asked to register at the Out Patient department at the Hospital on or before Friday 18th June. Dr. Amory will see a maximum of 35 persons,” she said.