The Cayman Islands Cancer Society is organizing Conquering Cancer V — Let’s Fight Cancer Together — a series of cancer awareness activities for both health professionals and the general public on 14th and 16th of September.

Every two years the Society organizes such an event and Dr. Sook Yin, Medical Advocate of the Society, says “Cancer is not selective and as health care providers, we are continuously waging the war on cancer. This weekend is the weekend of cancer awareness and CICS is committed to circulate as much information as possible throughout the community”. The events will include speakers from the Cayman Islands and around the world and attendees will have an opportunity to interact and ask questions of the speakers on a one-to-one basis.

The first event on Thursday 14th September will be at the Marriott Beach Resort beginning with refreshments and registration at 5:00pm; then followed by 10 presentations beginning at 5:30pm. The evening will be for doctors and allied professions, as well as medical students. Attendees will receive 4 hours continuing education credit. We will have expert speakers from Cancer Treatment Centers of America, Cleveland Clinic, Conceptions Florida, CTMH Doctors Hospital, Health City Cayman Islands, Holy Cross Hospital, Moffitt/Memorial Healthcare Systems, Miami Cancer Institute a part of Baptist Health South Florida, Perseus Cayman Clinical Trials and Treatment Center and University of Miami Health Systems.

The second event is a free event open to the public and will be on Saturday, 16th September from 8:30am — 2:00pm at the Grand Cayman Marriott Beach Resort on West Bay Road. The Society and its partners are inviting everyone to join them at this day of awareness and education.

There will be ten educational awareness sessions throughout the day, opportunities to learn about your individual cancer risk and what you can do to lower it and a number of booths promoting cancer prevention, healthy lifestyles and other health-related services available in the Cayman Islands. Dr. Yin added that “the information passed on to health care providers and the public through these educational sessions will serve to keep the people up to date”. She also urges them to “take the initiative to act on everything learned from these awareness sessions”. The Cayman Heart Fund will be on hand to do general health screenings for BMI, cholesterol and glucose. Participants should come fasting for at least 10 hours before the tests. Additionally, there will be vouchers for free Pap smears, mammograms and PSA blood tests for individuals who do not have health insurance coverage for these potentially lifesaving tests. Refreshments will also be served throughout the day.

The Cayman Islands Cancer Society would like to thank all of the doctors and exhibitors participating in the event; St. Matthews University School of Medicine, the Cayman Islands Medical and Dental Society and the Marriott Hotel for hosting the event.

The Cayman Islands Cancer Society is a non-profit organization dedicated to preventing the development of cancer through an array of education programs and screening initiatives. It also provides financial assistance to cancer patients for treatment-related expenses. The Society offers counseling and support to cancer patients and their families. It is the leader in issues pertaining to cancer control in the Cayman Islands. The Society’s programs and assistance are funded through events and donations from the public and from the corporate sector.