For breast cancer survivor Simone Morgan, the decision to get screened was driven by a painful family history of cancer and a determination to avoid the fate that claimed the lives of three of her relatives.

After noticing a change in the appearance of her breast, Morgan decided to seek medical attention, despite feeling nervous about the screening process.
The experience, she recalled, became easier with the reassurance and guidance of the technician who attended to her, reinforcing the importance of taking that first step towards protecting her health.

Morgan’s decision was shaped by memories of losing her grandmother, great-aunt and uncle after their cancer was detected too late for treatment to be effective.

“Coming from a family of cancer, knowing it was very late for my grandmother, my great-aunt and my uncle, it was very sad to see the way they died. The treatment for them was too late, and I don't want that for myself, my kids and my grandkids and any other woman going through that,” she said in a One Communications Facebook post.

Having experienced the consequences of late diagnosis within her own family, Morgan is now urging women who may be postponing mammograms to prioritise their health and seek screening as early as possible.

“Any woman out there who's delaying their mammogram, you should go and get your test as early as possible,” she urged.
Her appeal comes as the Ministry of Health intensifies efforts to improve breast cancer prevention, early detection, diagnosis and treatment through a newly launched Action Plan for Breast Cancer Management in Guyana.

The plan aims to strengthen coordination among radiology, pathology, surgery, oncology and primary healthcare services, while improving referral systems, patient navigation and follow-up to reduce delays in care.

Delivering the feature address at the launch, Health Minister Dr Frank Anthony underscored the importance of improved screening, early diagnosis, expanded treatment services and greater collaboration among healthcare providers.

For Dr Shanique Greaves, Coordinator of Cancer Services in the Ministry of Health’s Chronic Disease Unit, one of the most important messages women need to understand is that screening should not be reserved for those who already feel unwell.

“Screening is not for people who are sick. It is for healthy people, people who feel fine,” she said, explaining that the absence of symptoms does not necessarily mean a person is free of disease.

Dr Greaves stressed that early detection can improve treatment options, reduce costs and support faster recovery, while late diagnosis can limit available treatments and make successful management more difficult.

“Frankly, I think early detection is a matter of life and death,” she said.

She also cautioned women against waiting until they notice a lump or abnormal discharge before seeking medical advice, emphasising that screening can help identify disease before symptoms become apparent.

“Because early is easy, late is hard,” she said.

As part of efforts to expand access, the Ministry introduced mammography machines in Regions Two, Six, Nine and Ten in 2025, extending services beyond Region Four. Women aged 40 and older are encouraged to access screening, which Dr Greaves said is available free of charge.

Women seeking guidance on screening can visit their nearest health centre for information on accessing the service.

The urgency of these efforts is underscored by figures from the Georgetown Public Hospital Corporation’s Oncology Department, which recorded 147 breast cancer cases in 2025 and another 107 between January and August 2026.

Medical Registrar in the department, Dr Alina Gutierrez, said the oncology service sees at least 15 new cancer cases each week.

Against this backdrop, the new action plan seeks to improve access to timely, coordinated and compassionate care for women across Guyana.