Together We Can Make a Difference in Fighting Cancer

By Lagi Keresoma

Apia, Samoa – 05 October 2023: The number of women cancer patients registered with the Samoa Cancer Society (SCS) continues to rise with breast cancer as the highest type affecting them.

At the commemoration of the annual Cancer Day this week known as Pinktober, the Minister of Health, Valasi Luapitofanua Togamaga Tafito Selesele highlighted the need to work together and support the Government’s effort in eliminating cancer.

This year’s Pinktober theme is “Together We Can Make a Difference”.

“It is our objective to help decrease the prevalence and incidence of breast cancer in Samoa, by contributing to and supporting the Ministry’s Health Sector Plan and the governments’ Strategy for the Development of Samoa,” said Valasi.

Since the establishment of the Samoa Cancer Society 21 years ago, the organisation has been actively campaigning and promoting awareness programmes on the importance of early detection of cancer.

Despite the recorded number of patients, the SCA believe there are more women with cases that have yet to come forward.

The Minister for Health Valasi Luapitofanua Togamaga Tafito opening Pinktober 2023.

The Samoa Cancer Society’s Chief Executive Officer, Su’a John Ryan said there are currently 18 cancer referrals to the organisation and the number could increase before the year.

The organisation’s major concern is the increasing number of patients affected at a younger age.

“In the previous years, the starting target for screening was 42 years but we have seen the increase number of young women diagnosed with breast cancer,” said Su’a.

He said the number recorded in 2019 was 25, then in 2022 dropped to 22.

“It may seem the number have dropped but the reality is, it has not,” said Su’a.

The common type of cancer is breast cancer, cervical cancer, prostate cancer, lung and colon cancer.

Pinktober activities
Su’a commended the ANZ Bank for their continuous support which is now 10 years hosting the Pinktober activities.

To mark that milestone, ANZ donated $10,000 to SCS and have allocated a space at the main office in Apia for free public screening which started this week.

Also schedule for this month is awareness programs in Savaii and a visit to cancer patients. There will also be a Game Fishing Tournament in partnership with the Samoa International Game Fishing Association (SIGFA) and the weeklong health activities promoting physical exercises, sponsored by Vodafone Samoa.

“As Patron of the Samoa Cancer Society, I am pleased to report that the work of the Society continues to provide vital information and statistics to the Health Sector that contributes to national policy planning and implementation,” said Minister Valasi Luapitofanua Togamaga Tafito Selesele.

“The Samoa Cancer Society is an important stakeholder and advocator to all consultations on cancer, tobacco control and NCD’s for Samoa, and for which I am proud to be associated with.”