For St Andrew businesswoman, Vivette Howard-McCarthy, a mammogram is a non-negotiable part of her healthcare routine.

For almost 16 years, the Stony Hill Road resident has made it a priority to do her breast screening annually, as she strongly believes that early detection can improve the outcome for women diagnosed with breast cancer.

“Early detection can save lives. Anything to save my life, I’m doing it,” she reasoned, noting that she also performs monthly breast self-examinations.

“When you do your mammogram, you have a chance to know if anything is there. I see so many persons wait for so long and then it (cancer) is gone too far that they lose their breasts,” she said.

A mother of two, Howard-McCarthy shared that her commitment to screening was reinforced by the impact of breast cancer on people she knows.  She disclosed that she personally knows five or six people who have been diagnosed with breast cancer, with one person losing both her breasts.

Howard-McCarthy was among 150 women who received complimentary mammograms courtesy of the JN Group, as part of its ‘Power of Pink’ breast cancer awareness campaign, an initiative designed to promote early detection and reduce barriers to screening. 

The mammograms were offered on a first-come, first-served basis at the Jamaica Cancer Society (JCS) headquarters in St Andrew on World Mammography Day, October 17. Now in its eighth year, the initiative is a collaborative effort among JN Bank, JN Money, JN Life Insurance, and the Jamaica Cancer Society (JCS).

Michelle Lemon, a resident of Spanish Town, was also a recipient of a free mammogram. It was her third time benefiting.

“I don’t want to get cancer,” she stressed, adding that her sister is a breast cancer survivor for more than twenty years.

Admitting that she was hesitant to do a mammogram in years gone by, she said the encouragement and the experience of her sister made it easier to start doing her mammogram four years ago.

“Just get tested,” she encourages other women.  “It is better to know (if one has cancer) than not to know.”

Roshane Reid-Koomson, executive director of the JCS, noted that the organisation has remained committed to reducing the impact of cancer through early detection for close to seven decades. She explained that although the JCS is not directly involved in treatment, it plays a vital role in screening, education, and support.

“We work very closely with medical practitioners at major public hospitals and private facilities, ensuring that help is readily available for those who need further care. Breast surgical consultations are offered at all major hospitals across the island, as well as through the Jamaica Cancer Society, so individuals can easily be referred for the next stage of care once an abnormality is detected,” she related.

Reid-Koomson shared that the organisation provides affordable screening services, including mammograms, pap smears, and prostate tests, at its head office, and at its branches in Santa Cruz, St Elizabeth and Ocho Rios, St Ann.

She further pointed out that counselling and survivor support are provided through affiliate groups such as the Jamaica Reach to Recovery and Brothers United Against Prostate Cancer, which offer emotional support and practical resources to individuals and families affected by cancer.

“This year, we’ve also partnered with Talk About It to provide free counselling to diagnosed individuals and their families during September and October,” she said.

Echoing the importance of early detection, Hugh Reid, managing director of JN Life Insurance, said the JN Group’s Power of Pink campaign reflects the company’s mission to promote health and wellness.

“As an insurance company, JN Life is not just about paying out claims in times of difficulties, such as death or a critical illness. We are a life company, meaning we believe that Jamaicans should live life to the fullest and realise their true potential,” he said.

“Early detection is important to saving lives, which aligns with our belief that life is for living. The Power of Pink campaign encourages screening as part of the fight against breast cancer, which remains the number one cause of cancer among women in Jamaica.”

Reid encourages women to take proactive steps toward protecting their health.

“Get screened by doing your mammograms annually once you are over the age of 40, or earlier if a member of your family was diagnosed with breast cancer or any other type of cancer. I also encourage women to practise a healthy lifestyle, including diet and exercise, and to cover themselves against critical illnesses with a suitable insurance policy,” he advised.