‘Pink Cap City Walk’ a success – Dr Rosalind Ambrose

President of the St Vincent and the Grenadines Medical Association Dr Rosalind Ambrose says that she is pleased with the staging of the seventh “Pink Cap City Walk” march and rally last Friday.{{more}}

“It was very successful – we had a very successful march,” Ambrose said.

She commented positively on the turnout of the many organisations present, which according to the SVGMA, included members of the School of Nursing, the Royal St Vincent and the Grenadines Police Force, Trinity Medical School and the Girl Guides.

The rally, which preceded the march, included a feature address by St Lucian cancer specialist Dr Owen Gabriel.

Present were a number of survivors of breast cancer, including Danielle Francis who performed a special song, which, according to Ambrose, was adopted as the theme song of the event.

The event was organised to create an awareness and to encourage people to practise good breast health, the medical association’s president said.

According to Ambrose, women should make regular checks – usually once or twice a month.

“You’re in the shower, look at your breast,” she said.

Ambrose explained further that it was surprising the number of women who come for a check-up and overlook abnormalities in the appearance of their breasts. She recommended that women over 35 should have a mammogram at least once a year.

However, she expressed some concern over the participation of men in the event, saying that while it is easier for women to attend events such as the breast cancer awareness march and rally, men often shied away from speaking on issues regarding their health.

“Men don’t like to disclose health issues, and so that is a common drawback in getting male involvement,” she said.

Statistically, Ambrose said that some 40,000 women were expected to die from the disease in the United States this year; locally the disease affects one in nine women, she said.

Activities to acknowledge breast cancer awareness have been taking place since 2000, Ambrose said, but this year has been the seventh year of the Pink Cap City Walk. (DD)