The Cancer Caring Center (CCC) is a 10 room, fully furnished, residential facility attached to the headquarters of the Cancer Society of The Bahamas (CSOB ) on East Terrace, between Harcourt (Rusty) Bethel Drive and Fourth Terrace in Centreville.  Each room contains twin beds and an en-suite bath to accommodate 10 patients and 10 accompanying care-givers.  Accommodations are provided free-of-charge to cancer-stricken Family Island residents when they have to relocate to New Providence for cancer treatment (chemotherapy and/or radiation).
Whenever space permits, accommodations are also made available, at a nominal fee of $30 per day per room, to cancer-stricken individuals and their caregivers from neighboring Caribbean countries who travel to New Providence for cancer treatment.
The CCC does not provide meals for patients, and there is no provision on premises for cooking.  There is a dining room/kitchen, which is equipped with a microwave, coffee/ tea makers and toaster(s), as well as a refrigerator.  Each room is assigned a shelf in the fridge for storing perishable items.  Additionally, each room is assigned a small locker, with a key, in the dining room, for the storage of dry food items.
Laundry facilities are also located on premises for the patients.  There is a $1 per load charge for the washer; there is presently no charge for the dryer.  Patients provide their own detergent.
The CSOB provides free transportation for patients in the following instances: To and from their doctor's appointment or treatment facility; and a twice weekly shopping trip for patients and/or their caregivers to procure needed items.
During 2010, a total of 149 patients called the CCC home for varying periods of the year.  Of this total, 30 or 20 percent were new patients and the remaining 119 were repeat patients.  Of the 149 admissions, 19 or 13 percent were non-Bahamian citizens/residents from Antigua & Barbuda (11), Barbados (2), Grand Cayman (3) and Turks & Caicos (3).
Of the 130 Bahamian admissions, 67 or 51 percent were from the Island of Grand Bahama; 19 or 15 percent were from Andros; 18 or 14 percent were from Eleuthera; 12 or nine percent were from Exuma; seven or five percent were from Abaco.  Inagua, Cat Island and Crooked Island had four, two and one respectively.
Cancer, as we well know in The Bahamas, has no respecter of age, sex, race or denomination.  It is an equal opportunity attacker.  The CCC has been a melting pot as all groups and ages have been temporary residents over the years.  The oldest resident to date has been a Bahamian of 75.  The youngest, a 16-month old toddler from Antigua for a two-month period  receiving radiation therapy for kidney cancer.   She is presently doing well and attends pre-school in her native country.
Female patients have been far more predominant over the years, and the most common diagnosis has been breast cancer, followed by colon and cervical cancers.  Amazingly, in an age where cancer of the cervix can be prevented by regular screening, which the CSOB provides freely for uninsured residents, women are still being admitted to the CCC with a diagnosis of stage four of this preventable disease.
The CSOB is committed to, and spends considerable effort, funds and time on its primary objective, education for the prevention, early detection and effective treatment of various forms of cancers.  Despite years of active field work, a significant number of Bahamians are still being diagnosed with advanced stage cancer.
Centre supervisor Gloria Hanna says that at the top of her wish list is for people to be admitted before stage four.  She says early detection through early screening makes a difference.
A stay at the CCC is not all about treatment and doctor visits.  There are wonderful times of fellowship and fun as well.  For example, on Monday evenings a team from The Evangelistic Temple meet with the patients for a night of fellowship.  The Support Group meets the first and third Wednesday of each month in the Abaco Room at the CSOB.  One meeting each month is always a dedicated fun night which could take the form of games, dancing or movies, and in true-true Bahamian style, is always accompanied with delicious food.
 
If you would like to know more about the Cancer Caring Centre, or would like to contribute to the work of the CSOB, or wish to volunteer with the Cancer Society of the Bahamas, please call 323-4441 or 323-4482.  You may also email at: cancersociety@hotmail.com; or visit the Web Site: www.cancersocietybahamas.com or www.cancersocietybahamas.org.
 

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