Join the fight for the cure

Yulit Gordon, Contributor

According to the latest paper prepared by Professor Barrie Hanchard and his team at the University Hospital of the West Indies, the age-specific incidence of breast cancer within Kingston and St Andrew is approximately 43.1 for every 100,000 women.

Jamaican families lose approximately 286 women annually to breast cancer.

These women are often mothers, caregivers and income earners, and the loss of lives impacts many families negatively. It is so important for women to get their annual mammography screening done, as early detection has been proven to save lives. This is even more critical as breast cancer affects women of all ages, with approximately 36.9 per cent of those diagnosed being between 25 and 59 years of age.

The Jamaica Cancer Society is on a mission to raise US$335,000 to acquire a new digital mammography unit, which will place the Society on the cutting edge of technology, and allow women in Jamaica to have access to the very best equipment for testing for breast cancer. This new machine will enable the Society to be a centre of excellence for breast imaging within the Caribbean.

We invite all Jamaicans to make a donation to National Commercial Bank, account number 241639207; Bank of Nova Scotia, account number 800472; Victoria Mutual Building Society, account number 400249330; and Jamaica National Building Society, account number 10006960.

Acknowledgement

We are indeed grateful for the partnerships with Wisynco, through their Yoplait 'Save lids to save lives' campaign, Sagicor Life, American Airlines, and Consumer Brands for sponsoring our Keeping Abreast Luncheon, the team of volunteer surgeons and oncologists who will present at the medical symposium, the team at Progressive Grocers, John R. Wong, Sovereign, Loshusan, Super Valu, Brooklyn supermarkets for their 'pink ribbon cupcakes' campaign, to Sun Island for its 'pink shirt for their cause' campaign, Payless Shoe Source for its 2013 limited-edition bracelet for the fight against breast cancer, Swizz Beads, and LIME Foundation.

We encourage everyone to support as many of these initiatives as they possibly can.

Yulit Gordon is executive director of the Jamaica Cancer Society.