For Dawn Floissac, the battle against cancer has been a journey from fear to resilience. Speaking at the Cancer Talks panel discussion on Wednesday at Sir Arthur Lewis Community College, she shared her story—one of courage, swift action, and a commitment to supporting others facing the same fight.
“What is cancer? For me, for the wider population, it is fear—fear of the unknown,” Floissac said. “You get this diagnosis and immediately there is fear. But while there is fear, there is hope.”
Her words resonated throughout the room, where medical professionals, students, and members of the public had gathered to mark World Cancer Day which was commemorated on February 4. The event, a collaboration between the college and the Ministry of Health, was spearheaded by renowned oncologist Dr Owen Gabriel. Discussions focused on prevention, early detection, and treatment options for various cancers prevalent among Saint Lucians, including prostate, breast, cervical, ovarian, colorectal, and skin cancer.
Floissac’s journey began with a diagnosis that could have easily overwhelmed her. However, she did not allow it to. “You wouldn’t believe it, but I am a cancer survivor, and I’m a survivor because I never hesitated,” she shared. “After getting the news, my next stop was Dr Gabriel’s office. I never hesitated.”
But her connection to cancer goes beyond her own battle—she has lost multiple family members to the disease. This personal history fuels her mission to encourage others to overcome fear and stigma.
“We didn’t ask for it. We were chosen for some reason,” she reflected. “As a survivor, I feel if I can help someone, if I can advise someone, I need to do that. That’s the only way we can reach everyone. We can’t keep it to ourselves. We can’t hide it.”
During the discussion, Dr Gabriel noted that between 30 and 50 per cent of cancers can be prevented by addressing risk factors and adopting evidence-based prevention strategies. He urged attendees to quit smoking, avoid secondhand smoke exposure, maintain a healthy diet, get regular checkups, get vaccinated against HPV to reduce the risk of cervical cancer and the Hepatitis B vaccine to protect against liver cancer.
The oncologist also spoke about the benefits of maintaining a healthy body mass index (BMI) through regular physical activity and a balanced diet, which can help prevent obesity, which is a risk factor linked to various cancers.
Floissac reinforced the message of prevention in her reminder to the audience that survival is possible when people take proactive steps. “You have to play your part. You have to take the advice that is given to you by the professionals so that you have a good outcome,” she urged.
As he concluded, Dr Gabriel urged continued support for cancer research and patient care.
“Every step forward, every breakthrough, every person who continues to fight, brings us closer to a future where cancer is no longer a threat,” he said. “Let us unite in support of those facing this challenge and commit to creating a world whose hope is stronger than fear, and where no one faces cancer alone. Together, we can make a difference.”
Share the Cure.
Amen.