This session was the last for group 2 of BSN and one member’s comment was “you saved the best for last”. Each member was allowed to invite one care-giver to this session. We have had many great sessions throughout the last twelve weeks but this was certainly an exceptional one. Our guest presenter was Mr. Ferose Abdool. Mr. Abdool is a Cancer Education and Counseling Specialist as well as a Psychotherapy facilitation specialist. He is currently a mental health officer with the Southern Regional Health Authority with over forty-four (44) years of experience in the medical profession having worked in Canada, UK and in several Caribbean Islands. In addition he serves as an advisor to various organizations in Trinidad and Tobago including the Ministry of Health National Health Planning Advisory Committee and the National Oncology Programme.  He is also a radio and television presenter.

Mr. Abdool shared with us information on the Bio Psycho-Social Approach to Cancer. He stated that research shows that persons who have been chronically depressed for at least six years had an 88% greater risk for developing Cancer. Incidence of suicide he stated in patients with cancer was 10 times greater than in the general population. He emphasized the importance of recognizing the symptoms of depression some of which included sadness, loss of interest, loss of energy, sleep deprivation and loss of appetite. It was important for patients to recognize these symptoms and get help as soon as possible. Patients can use anti-depressants to alleviate some of these symptoms but it was important to stay on the regime for the prescribed time and not come off pre-maturely as symptoms subside. Good psycho-therapy counseling could also alleviate these symptoms. He stated that the medical fraternity is now recognizing that for treatment and prevention of illness there is a need to overcome the tendency to see medical and psychiatric conditions as separate.

Subsequent to Mr. Abdool’s presentation care-givers were asked to introduce themselves and share a little about their own experience with cancer. This was a very emotional moment for many of our care-givers but also beneficial as caregivers had an opportunity to learn from each other.