Breast Cancer Screenings doubled in 20 years

The Breast Screening Programme (BSP) is providing 8 000 mammograms annually and this has doubled since the launch of the Programme in 1999 which originally anticipated the screening of 4000 women.

Medical Co-ordinator, Barbados Cancer Society, Dr. Shirley Jhagroo revealed this during her remarks at the BCS Breast Screening Programme CIBC First Caribbean Walk for the Cure Donation Ceremony at the Hilton Barbados yesterday.

Dr. Jhagroo also noted that an additional 2000 ultrasound tests have been done at the Breast Cancer Programme (BSP) Clinic. She said at the BSP in 2019, 52 new cases were diagnosed an average of one new case per week, with 16 of these patients being below age 40 years.

With increased screenings, she commented on the improved survival rate.

“The good news is 70 per cent were stages 0 to 1 giving these survivors an almost 99 per cent to 100 per cent five year survival,” said Dr. Jhagroo.

The medical professional mentioned that the first awareness walk by the Breast Screening Programme was on Sunday October 19, 1999 with 80 persons attending, today after 20 years about 25 000 participants took part in the walk in 2019.

“The education and awareness of saving lives by early detection has certainly made a difference to the attendance at the clinic as evidenced by the number of self referred patients increasing from 15 per cent ten years ago to 50 per cent in 2019, thanks to CIBC for their contribution by helping in the promotion of ‘walk for the cure,’” said Dr. Jhagroo.

Concern about cost of T-shirts and buying 3D equipment

Dr. Jhagroo explained that the Programme has been “self-sufficient” as funds raised from the walk and donations go towards purchasing and maintenance of equipment, and in subsidising investigations such as biopsies sometimes mammograms and ultrasounds, ensuring all patients have available to them whatever is necessary for early detection. However, with the BSP having to purchase T-Shirts at $180 000, this affected their profit and funding towards acquiring new testing equipment.

“Unfortunately, I am concerned that our vision for acquiring the 3D mammogram unit over the next few months will be a greater challenge than anticipated. However, moving forward the subcommittee can only hope that sponsorship of T-shirts will be more forthcoming, I have already started negotiations to make this a reality for 2020 and beyond,” said Dr. Jhagroo.