The Samoa Cancer Society (S.C.S.) has expressed concern at the number of younger women and girls being diagnosed with breast cancer including a 9-year-old.

The Vice President of the Executive Board of Directors of the Samoa Cancer Society, Tauiliili Alise Stunnenberg, spoke of the increase in infection as well as the fatalities and the worrying numbers among younger women and girls when giving the keynote address during the 3rd Annual Dinner of Mothers Daughters & Sisters at the Taumeasina Island Resort on Friday night.

She said the S.C.S. has done over 100 community awareness campaigns, reaching over 4,000 participants over the last three years raising awareness on breast cancer and general cancer.

"We have conducted multiple hospital and home visits for breast cancer patients. There are 11 active breast cancer patients in our books at present with 14 breast cancer survivors,” Tauiliili said. 

"Sadly we lost 13 breast cancer patients and 58 cancer patients in the last year.

"There is a worrying number of younger women and girls being diagnosed with breast cancer in Samoa.

“We have five new suspected cases of young girls (under 19 years) who are currently going through diagnosis, with the youngest being 9 years old.”

Giving a recap of the society’s early history, having been established in 1988, Tauiliili said the S.C.S. was previously run by volunteers who were mostly expatriates with funding scarce and fundraising activities in different forms.

However, 24 years later the society now has an office with a paid staff led by C.E.O. Papalii Su'a John Ryan and supported by patient support officer, Fuamatala Tofilua and community education officer, Tiana Silipa Levao.

"The S.C.S. is recognised by W.H.O. [World Health Organisation] and has established partnerships with relevant regional and international organizations through which we have received much-needed resources and support," Tauiliili said.

Currently, the society is leading awareness programs and targeting workplaces in the urban area, while last year the S.C.S visited Manono and Apolima again and increased its activities in Savai’i.

The key message according to Tauiliili is still early detection as she emphasised that this leads to the best outcomes for the person.

And while the organisation has made progress, the SCS still has gaps in terms of capacity with Tauiliili indicating that they need another patient support officer.

"We have one patient support officer who covers the whole country and we really need at least one more. 

“Their work is crucial in providing service, especially to those patients who are in Stage 4 to ease their discomfort.”

Another challenge is the absence of a registry to store patient data which Tauiliili said is a critical need as it will enable medical professionals to determine the status of a patient.

"A registry of cancer patients is desperately needed so that we can record information such as the actual number of people living with cancer, the types of cancer, the stage of their illness, the demographics such as gender, age, and other pertinent information,” she told the gathering at the resort.

"This will help us and the medical professionals quickly determine how to help the patients. 

“It will also help the Ministry of Health develop evidence-based policies which will enable us and the Ministry to secure resources from various agencies."

While the S.C.S. has its challenges, it continues to roll out vital services such as cancer awareness, and the organisation also has its team of supporters with Tauiliili making mention of the ANZ Bank and its Regional Country Manager Bernie Poort as well as Samoa’s Prime Minister, Fiame Naomi Mata’afa.

"I want to acknowledge one of our longtime supporters, Bernie Poort and the ANZ Bank who have hosted the opening and closing of Pinktober each year,” Tauiliili said.

"The ending of Pinktober is a walk/run along the seawall. Besides their financial donations, the ANZ Bank is also the donor of the S.C.S. pink car that most of you may have seen zipping around town."

And even the country’s leaders have not been spared the scourge of the debilitating effects of cancer with Tauiliili revealing that Prime Minister Fiame is a “quiet supporter” of the society and has lost loved ones to the disease.

"For the past six years this lady has been a quiet supporter of the S.C.S. she lost her sister to cancer about seven years ago and one of her nieces to cancer last year. 

"At our second Shave or Dye fundraiser about six years ago, this brave lady dyed all her hair pink and purple and won the prize for raising the most money ($15,000) and the prize for the best dressed (pink from head to toe).

"On Sunday after the event, she had to explain to her shocked church congregation why her hair was dyed bright pink and purple. There was a sigh of relief throughout the congregation after they heard the reason. Thank you, Madam Prime Minister, for your continuous support.”

Lemau Pala’amo and her husband Reverend Dr Alesana Pala’amo of Soul Talk fame were also acknowledged on the night for the free counselling services that they provide.

Lemau joined us earlier this year and travels with our patient support officer, Fuamatala Tofilua around the country providing counselling services to patients, their families and caretakers,” Tauiliili said.

The Taumeasina Island Resort was acknowledged for continuing to support the venue for the dinner since the resort opened.

“Thank you Tuiataga Nathan Bucknall and your team for your generosity,” Tauiliili said.

"It would be remiss of me not to thank our friends and the business community for donating all the awesome prizes that will be auctioned off later in the evening so I hope you brought lots of money.

"Tonight is our 3rd Annual Dinner for Mothers, Daughters & Sisters. This model of moving away from selling tickets to a fully sponsored event with donations collected was initiated by our Chief Executive Officer, Papali’i John Ryan.  

"It was embraced by Tofilau Fiti Leung Wai, Managing Director of the S.S.A.B. and here we are. Last year she was joined by Afioga Tuifa’asisina Sieni Voorwinden, C.E.O. of S.I.F.A.  

"These two power-women and their staff have given generously of their time and energies to our cause through these dinners. 

“In addition, SSAB has continued to support the Samoa Cancer Society over the years, with other fundraising activities. 

"Fa’afetai tele lava Afioga Tofilau ma Afioga Tuifa’asisina and your staff for all that you continue to do to assist the S.C.S. in our work."

Tauiliili also acknowledged her colleague S.C.S. Board of Directors: Lauaki Jason Annandale (President), Lemauga Pati Va’ai (Treasurer), Audrey Brown-Pereira (Secretary), Amanda Lam, Suzie Poort, Fuimaono Lumepa Apelu Hald, and Saveatama Sosefina Tualaulelei.

The night’s program also included testimonies from cancer survivors Elaine Silva and Magalie Lameloise who shared their experiences being diagnosed with cancer and the challenges they endured. 

The C.E.O. of the society Papalii also used the opportunity to advise that Magalie has announced the launching of a new S.C.S. Facebook page called "Pink Ladies of Samoa", which was created for women of Samoa who have been diagnosed with breast cancer. 

The page will be administered by the S.C.S. and will provide a safe online space for women to share their experiences and support each other.