Boosting the battle against breast cancer

WITH the increasingly high number of Jamaican women affected by breast cancer, and at an earlier age than the global average, Government Senator Dr Elon Thompson has proposed a five-part plan, headed by a national, organised screening programme, to tackle the problem that is devastating families.

Thompson, a trained urologist who is at the forefront of prostate cancer awareness and treatment, unveiled his plan in the Senate last Friday when he rose on the adjournment to talk about an issue that has personally affected him — he revealed that three of his aunts were diagnosed with breast cancer, two of whom have since died.

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He told the Senate that, “awareness without capacity breeds frustration. So I respectfully put forward five practical asks”.