Jamaican Groups Promote Breast Cancer Screening During Awareness Month

The AUBYN Foundation and JK Breast Cancer Foundation held a Women With a Purpose 5K in Treasure Beach, St Elizabeth, to raise awareness and support breast cancer screening and diagnostic services for 1,000 Jamaican women. The event, backed by corporate and community partners, comes during Breast Cancer Awareness Month and aims to promote early detection and better access to care.

The Rotary Club of Downtown Kingston, with Precision Imaging Center, donated breast prostheses and specialised mastectomy bras to Jamaica Reach To Recovery at the Jamaica Cancer Society to support women recovering from mastectomies. The items are meant to ease financial strain and help survivors regain comfort, confidence and dignity after breast cancer surgery.

Two Jamaican senators shared personal family experiences with breast cancer in the Upper House, using the debate to call for stronger screening and earlier detection. Government senator Elon Thompson said three aunts were diagnosed and two died, while Opposition Senator Kisha Anderson said two relatives survived because of early detection. Thompson cited 1,327 new cases and 684 deaths in 2022, urging a national screening programme.