More than 260 new breast cancer cases diagnosed in Guyana over the past year

More than 260 persons in Guyana were diagnosed with breast cancer within a one year period, the Medical Registrar of the Oncology Department at the Georgetown Hospital, Dr Whitney Munroe has revealed.

October is Breast Cancer Awareness month.

Speaking this morning at the ‘Look Good, Feel Better’ Breast Cancer Awareness Programme at the Georgetown Hospital, Dr. Munroe said breast cancer was detected in both men and women, and those patients have undergone the required treatment.

“Currently, for the year 2023 to 2024, over 264 persons were diagnosed with breast cancer, and this includes both males and females. And, treatment of breast cancer is a multi-disciplinary approach. It includes services from radiological department, the surgical department, pathology department, oncology department and of course radiation, which we get from the Cancer Institute of Guyana,” she explained.

Dr Munroe said globally, it is estimated that more than 360,000 persons would be diagnosed with breast cancer. She, however, assured that there is hope, explaining that advancements in early detection methods have increased the chances of survival.

Minister of Health, Dr Frank Anthony said here in Guyana, the Ministry of Health is acquiring the necessary technology to better manage and care for cancer patients, even as it continues to push for early detection.

“But while we have been advocating for this, to get a mammogram is a challenge because we only have one machine here, at this hospital in the public sector. So, accessing mammogram has been a challenge for patients. So, by the end of this year, one of the things the government would be doing is putting in four other mammography machines. So, one will be at New Amsterdam so people in Regions Five and Six can have access; so, one will be in Linden so people in Linden and the surrounding communities can have access; one would be in the Suddie Hospital so people on the Essequibo Coast can have access, and we are putting one in Lethem so people in Region Nine can have access,” the Health Minister said.

The machines are expected to be installed by the end of the year.

The Health Minister said in the case of biopsies, the return rate of biopsy results has significantly improved since the opening of the new pathology lab at the Georgetown Public Hospital.

Minister Anthony said while breast cancer is the leading cancer among women, cervical cancer cases remain concerning.

He said to prevent cervical cancer, the Health Ministry has been administering the HPV vaccine but the uptake remains extremely low.

“We are working to get vaccination up to 90%. So, right now, we are at 40% and we need to move that up to 90%. So, for children between the ages of 9 to 15, we have vaccines available for them. So, we would like you to encourage persons to make sure they bring kids out, and get vaccinate. And this is not just for girls alone, but it is for girls and boys because the HPV vaccines can prevent certain other cancers that occur in boys,” the Health Minister said.

Additionally, to encourage persons to test for HPV, the Government, through the Health Ministry, has introduced an HPV test voucher of $8,000, which allows women between ages of 21 and 65 to get tested. However, Minister Anthony said many women are not taking advantage of the programme.

He said in the future, the Government will develop a new Oncology Centre in Guyana to advance cancer treatment.