Part of Arlene Simon’s mission is to provide as many opportunities as possible to persons across the country to get screened.
As the Founder of Klass iz Klazz, Ms Simon said this mission is personal. Over the weekend, Ms Simon and her capable team of specialists hosted a free medical screening clinic at the San Fernando North Community Centre.
“So I am a breast cancer survivor of 13 years. I have had double mastectomy done.
I have had chemo. I have been shooting ringers. I may not look like it, but it has happened. And I’m here to tell persons that there’s life after cancer. It’s not a death sentence.”
According to Founder of Klass iz Klazz Arlene Simon said part of the mission of the organization is to provide support for survivors, warriors, family and friends with the help of her capable team of medical professionals who assisted her through her cancer journey. She said hosting these free medical screening clinics will encourage persons to act early.
“They can be educated. And they cannot shy away from getting information about the disease. And each one tells someone. So whoever gets this message, tell somebody. And if you feel something, tell somebody. Don’t keep it to yourself. That’s the message. I would like persons so that these are less and less persons. There are things that can be done out there for persons not to have to die with this disease.”
Clinical Oncologists Dr Visham Bhagaloo and Dr Nazreen Bhim said they have seen instances of persons coming in too late for treatment after discovery and diagnosis.
Dr Bhagaloo said for too long men have not taken an interest in their health, a trend he says through these community outreach programmes, is seeming to change.
“But more so showing men that getting and coming forward is the most important thing about prevention. Prevention is the only way for us to eradicate, reduce, and eliminate the number of cancers that we see on a day-to-day basis in our practice.”
As a champion for women’s health, Dr Bhim said the numbers for cervical cancer are startling.
“So in Trinidad and Tobago, more than 75% of cancers are diagnosed in stage 3 and stage 4. And that’s the experience that we’ve had and seen in our clinics. And most of the patients also are being diagnosed at a very young age. So for cervical cancer, for example, the average age of diagnosis is 43. We just did a big screening drive.
Dr. Bagalu participated in that drive as well. So we just did a big screening drive where more than 50% of the patients that we screened who were in their 40s and 50s never had a pap smear before. So in that drive, we actually were able to pick up some cancers as well as pre-cancerous disease.”
Ms Simon says she intends for these community outreach screening events to be offered on a more regular basis.