Every October the world dons pink for Breast Cancer Awareness Month, signalling the importance of screening, early detection and access to treatment. In Guyana the warning lights are flashing. Recent official figures show breast cancer remains the most diagnosed cancer among women and men in the country.
Alarming numbers and rising burden
According to the Ministry of Health, breast cancer accounted for 17 percent of all cancers diagnosed in 2023, with about 161 new cases recorded that year. By mid-2024, of the 693 cancer cases registered in the first six months, 149 were diagnosed as breast cancer. At the Georgetown Public Hospital Corporation, the Oncology Department reported approximately 264 men and women had been diagnosed with breast cancer during the 2023-24 period.
The numbers reflect a deeper worry – late presentation, limited access to screening and diagnostic services, and systemic barriers that result in lower survival rates. In the Americas, nearly half of new breast cancer cases and more than half of deaths occur in less-resourced settings.
Government response and programmes
In Guyana, the Ministry of Health has launched its “Pinktober 2025” campaign under the theme Act Now, Live Strong, in partnership with private sector and civil-society organisations. The campaign emphasises that the fight cannot be confined to a single month – early detection and screening must become routine behaviour.
The Ministry is also expanding access. Mammography services have been scaled up, vouchers distributed, and diagnostic infrastructure such as a dedicated histochemistry and cancer-marker laboratory is under development.
Non-government players stepping up
Civil-society organisations in Guyana are filling key gaps. The Guyana Cancer Society has provided free screening and mammograms during outreach efforts. In one campaign, 300 mammograms and 400 women screened were recorded.
Another non-profit, the Health and Education Relief Organisation for Cancer (H.E.R.O.C.), focuses on education, awareness, counselling, and prosthetics for survivors, targeting breast and prostate cancer support in Guyana.
Together, government and non-government actors are creating a network of prevention, detection and support, though major challenges remain.
Why screening, early detection and support matter
Globally, when breast cancer is caught at an early stage, the chances of survival soar. In high-income contexts the five-year relative survival rate for stage 0 or I breast cancer approaches 99 percent. In less-resourced countries like Guyana, late-stage diagnoses limit treatment options and reduce the likelihood of favourable outcomes.
Screening such as mammography and clinical breast exams, self-awareness of one’s normal, and timely diagnostic referral are critical pillars of control. Treatment must be multidisciplinary, encompassing surgery, pathology, oncology and radiology, as noted by the Georgetown Hospital Oncology team.
Beyond the medical side, support systems for patients and families including counselling, navigation of care pathways and financial aid play a huge role in outcomes and quality of life. Non-government organisations in Guyana are actively providing these links.
Barriers and the road ahead
Despite progress, obstacles abound. Awareness remains uneven, especially in rural and hinterland communities. Cultural attitudes and fear delay presentation. Access to screening and diagnostic services outside the major urban centres is limited. The Ministry of Health continues to stress that Guyanese must take initiative and not wait until illness becomes severe before seeking care.
Health-system strengthening remains vital, including investment in diagnostic equipment, trained personnel, referral networks, affordable care and survivor support. The Ministry is working on these areas, but the scale of the problem demands sustained effort.
Challenge of breast cancer demands action every day
October may be Pinktober, but for Guyana, the challenge of breast cancer demands action every day. Awareness must translate into screening, screening into early detection, and detection into timely treatment and support. When government authorities and civil society organisations work side-by-side, with one constant in mind – no one should face breast cancer alone – the story can begin to shift.
For every life saved through early detection, the ripple effects touch families, communities and the nation. And in a country where breast cancer remains the number-one cancer among women, that ripple could become a wave of hope.
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For more information on screening programmes in Guyana and support services, contact the Ministry of Health or local non-profit cancer-support organisations.
