The absence of a National Cancer Registry for Samoa continues to make it difficult to accurately inform the public on the types of cancer diagnosed in the country.

Samoa Cancer Society (S.C.S.) Chief Executive Officer Papalii Su’a John Ryan told the Samoa Observer that the society is unable to provide accurate figures on the type of cancers due to the absence of the registry.

"All of the figures discussed regarding to cancer must be prefaced by the fact that Samoa currently does not have a National Cancer Registry," Papalii said in an email reply to this newspaper. 

"Therefore we cannot at this time accurately state true figures in relation to the numbers of any particular type of cancer."

This newspaper contacted the society querying the number of endometrial cancer cases in Samoa, following the death of Australia-based Samoan lawyer Marion Bailey in November last year, after she lost her battle to the cancer. 

Marion Moe Bailey was born in Moto’otua Hospital in Apia, Samoa on September 24, 1964 to Kiwi father John and Samoan mother Mona. She was a former State Solicitor of Samoa and also a close friend of Samoa's first female Prime Minister, Fiame Naomi Mata'afa. Fiame attended her funeral in Australia in November last year.

Expressing concern at the absence of a registry, Papalii added that he is aware of the Ministry of Health (M.O.H.) working in conjunction with the World Health Organisation (W.H.O.) to address the issue.

"I do know the Ministry of Health is working in conjunction for the W.H.O. to launch the National Cancer Registry sometime in the near future, and we at the Samoa Cancer Society look forward to this as this will help formulate more effective cancer control plans to reduce the instances of cancer in our communities."

The Sydney Morning Herald last December published a story on the death of the late Marion and reportedly said Samoa had the "third-highest incidence of endometrial cancer globally" and the "fourth-highest death rate."

However, the S.C.S. President said he is unable to verify the statistics quoted by the Australian newspaper, though he believes the data could have come from the W.H.O.

"The figures used in the article most likely came from the W.H.O.’s country profile for Samoa, which shows that 20 per cent figure mentioned, and this data was collated in 2018 for publishing in 2022.  

"You will note that this data was collated in 2018 for the 2020 W.H.O. report.

"This data was collected from the Ministry of Health with input from the Samoa Cancer Society."

Papalii added that current figures based on the society's patient profiles showed that they have on record eight (8) cases for 2022.

"However, as per point 1 above, the lack of a National Cancer Registry limits the accuracy of this data as a national figure, as these are just the cases that are registered with us," he said. "I would suggest asking the Ministry of Health for a more complete picture."

The Sydney Morning Herald article also called for early detection of cancer which  Su’a said he agreed with totally and it remains one of the society's key messages.

"I 100 per cent agree with the statement in the article that early detection is so important in the fight against endometrial cancer and all cancers for that matter, and this is one of the key messages for the Samoa Cancer Society," Papalii said. 

"We encourage everyone to get regular medical checks, and if you do not feel well, or is you find a new or strange growth, lump, experience sudden weight loss, please see a doctor ASAP [as soon as possible]. 

"It is also important to note as well, that if you are not satisfied with the answers or diagnosis from the doctor, please seek a second opinion. 

"We must all be proactive in our own health care."