Georgetown Public Hospital Reports 107 New Breast Cancer Cases in Eight Months

APNU says Guyana’s breast cancer survival rate shows the country’s oil wealth is not yet translating into better health outcomes. Former health minister Dr. Karen Cummings cited WHO data putting Guyana’s five-year survival rate at 60–69% and urged faster screening, diagnosis and treatment, plus clearer targets for health spending.

APNU said Guyana’s oil-fuelled economic growth must be matched by better health outcomes, using Breast Cancer Awareness Month to question whether citizens are living longer and healthier. Citing low breast cancer survival rates and shorter life expectancy than some Caribbean neighbours, the party called for more transparency, national targets and a public scorecard on health indicators.

Georgetown Public Hospital recorded 528 new cancer patients from January to August 2026, including 107 new breast cancer cases, as it marked Breast Cancer Awareness Month. The hospital said free cancer treatment and outreach services are helping more patients seek care earlier, which doctors say improves outcomes.

Georgetown Public Hospital recorded 107 breast cancer cases from January to August 2026, following 147 cases in 2025, while doctors say fewer patients are now arriving with late-stage disease. GPHC officials credited better awareness, stronger screening and improved treatment, as breast cancer remains a major health burden for women in Guyana.

Georgetown Public Hospital’s Oncology Clinic recorded 528 new cancer patients in the first eight months of 2026, including 107 new breast cancer cases, alongside 4,115 follow-up visits and 321 patients starting chemotherapy. The hospital says rising awareness is helping more people seek care earlier, which is important because GPHC is Guyana’s main free cancer treatment centre. Its outreach clinic in Berbice also expanded access outside Georgetown.