The 2nd Annual Caribbean Leading Ladies Conference was hosted by the Basia Show and First Citizens in Barbados on January 27th and 28th 2012 at the Hilton. The conference proved to be successful as it fulfilled its promise to motive and empower women.

Although the topics covered ranged from fashion, skin treatment, parenting, breast cancer, green living, having a winning attitude, the theme was central “women know who you are and be proud to be you”. The speakers were a dynamic representation of Caribbean women who shared their professional and personal stories creating an atmosphere that allowed the conference participants to openly and freely discuss issues that face Caribbean women.

FEATURED SPEAKERS

• Alicia Powell- President Basia Productions Inc, CEO, John Powell Advertising Ltd. Founder, Basia Survivor Network 
• Sharon Christopher- Deputy CEO First Citizens
• Madonna Doyle – First Citizens guest speaker 
• Toni Blackett Felix – Lead Teacher, The Ricardo Powell Academy for Autism

• Leila Springer – Executive Director The Olive Branch of Hope, President The World Breast Cancer Conference
• Dr. Arusha Campbell- Chambers- Dermatologist
• Dr. Jacqueline James Lyttle- Architectual Engineer
• Meiling – Fashion Designer

The conference was developed by Alicia Powell aka Miss Basia, television host and producer, magazine publisher, entrepreneur and business women subsequent to the formation of her breast cancer support network, Basia Survivor Network in Trinidad. Powell, televised her breast cancer journey on her television programme, the Basia Show.

Alicia’s story of overcoming and beating the dreadful disease initiated the call by women of the Caribbean for the formation of the Breast cancer support group in their respective islands. However, in 2011 Alicia morphed BSN into the Caribbean Leading Ladies Conference to not only converse on breast cancer but to provide a platform for female issues in the Caribbean. The conference also served as medium to lend support to the fight against breast cancer as First Citizens and The Basia Show presented four (4) Pet CT Scans, two (2) to The Barbados Cancer Society and two (2) to BSN members Pauline Granthume , Gillian Polo.

The Caribbean Leading Ladies Conference achieved its goal by empowering women to reach beyond their natural abilities embracing the life’s journey, making a commitment to excellence. Powell encouraged women to  live ‘Larger Than Life”!!! The 2nd Annual Caribbean Leading Ladies Conference is just the start of a powerful platform for Caribbean Women determine to succeed against all odds. Full credit to First Citizens for conitnuing to support all initiatives affecting women across the region.

MIAMI (CBS4) — South Florida is a melting pot of cultures and with that comes a melting pot of genetic issues. In South Florida, there’s a doctor who is looking at breast cancer among women just off our shores with the hope that it’ll lead to answers right back here at home.

Dr. Judith Hurley has been working with breast cancer patients at the University of Miami for years. Her patients come from all over, but she was seeing one troubling trend in the Caribbean.

“One day I thought you know every single woman that I see from the Bahamas with breast cancer is really young,” explained Dr. Hurley.

After doing research with oncologists in the Bahamas, the evidence was pointing in one direction. The women who had breast cancer in the Bahamas were younger than the women in the United States. So with grants from the Komen For the Cure, she expanded the testing.

“We know that women who have an inherited form of breast cancer have a younger age of onset of their breast cancer,” said Dr. Hurley.

The inherited form comes from the BRCA gene mutation. After about 18 months of BRCA genetic testing on saliva samples from Bahamian women, they found startling information.

“We are double the highest reported rate in the world,” said Dr. Hurley.

The next step was to counsel the families about the mutation and the risk.

“The gene is passed along from mother to daughter, or father to daughter, or father to son. It can come from both sides. It doesn’t just come from your mom,” according to Dr. Hurley.

Dr. Hurley’s findings in the Caribbean could have a big impact here in South Florida.

“If you can begin to get ideas on how to deal with breast cancer in the African Caribbean group, maybe that window can be opened larger and you can start exporting that information to African American women,” said Dr. Hurley.

Source:http://miami.cbslocal.com/2011/04/08/komen-caribbean-breast-cancer-rates-higher-than-normal/

The American breast cancer charity, Susan G. Komen for the Cure, announced here Thursday a 600,000 US-dollar grant to the study.DALLAS, Texas, CMC -- University of Miami researchers are to investigate the role of genetics in trying to learn why Caribbean women appear to be at highest risk of inheriting an aggressive form of breast cancer.

University of Miami researcher Judith Hurley will study 1,000 breast cancer patients from four Caribbean countries, looking for genetic mutations that are responsible for some breast cancers.

Evidence from research with oncologists in the Bahamas suggests that women with the inherited form of breast cancer there were younger than the women in the United States. “The gene is passed along from mother to daughter, or father to daughter, or father to son. It can come from both sides. It doesn’t just come from your mom,” Hurley said.

The grants from Komen for the Cure will allow for expanded testing, CBS4 television said.

“Women who have an inherited form of breast cancer have a younger age of onset of their breast cancer,” Hurley told the station.

“Our research investments are geared to bringing results to the table - and soon - for the most difficult questions that remain in breast cancer," said the charity’s founder and chief executive Ambassador Nancy G. Brinker.

The mutations are BRCA1 and BRCA2 genes, found in 23 percent of women with breast cancer in the Bahamas. Among American women, the aggressive cancer genes account for only three per cent to five per cent.

Mutations of these genes are linked to hereditary breast and ovarian cancer.

The researchers and their funder are hoping to extend the results of the Caribbean women study to black Americans.

“If you can begin to get ideas on how to deal with breast cancer in the African Caribbean group, maybe that window can be opened larger and you can start exporting that information to African American women,” Hurley told CBS4 television.

"This research may lead to a better understanding of issues unique to black women throughout the Caribbean and in the U.S., as we attempt to address breast cancer's impacts across diverse groups," said Elizabeth Thompson, Komen’s president.

Named for Brinker’s sister who died from the disease more than 30 years ago, the Komen for the Cure has invested 66 million dollars investment in new research, patient support and scientific conferences in 2011, making it the largest charity funder for breast cancer research in the United States and second only to the US government, the organisation said.

The foundation said it has spent more than 685 million dollars for breast cancer research in its 29 years, making it the largest non-profit funder of breast cancer research outside of the federal government.