MONTEGO BAY, St James — The importance of early detection has once again been underscored by an oncologist who stressed that most breast cancer cases in the United States are not immediately fatal.

Two Jamaican breast cancer survivors, who spoke alongside the medical professional during a recent webinar, agreed on the importance of acting early as they provided insight into their successful battle with the disease.

“The fact remains that most breast cancers, at least [those] diagnosed in the United States, are cured — by far,” said director of clinical research at the West Cancer Center in Tennessee Dr Gregory Vidal.

He was speaking during the webinar, themed ‘Living with Breast Cancer’ which was hosted by entrepreneur and media practitioner Janet Silvera.

“It’s only a small subset that is patients who die of breast cancer,” Dr Vidal continued. “Most breast cancers are curable; the earlier you find it, the higher your cure rate.”

His comments about the benefits of early detection and regular screening are in line with global findings.

Despite that message being stressed every October as breast cancer month is observed, some women ignore the advice. Dr Vidal explained that financial constraints are among factors that may cause some of them to avoid screening, while others may chose to ignore signs that there is a problem. These delays can be deadly.

“The ones that are more difficult to treat are the ones that, when we diagnose it, it is at a more extensive stage. Meaning, sometimes patients feel something different [about their breast] and try to wish it away somewhat; or for whatever reasons — be it financial or otherwise — didn’t go in and get it checked,” said Dr Vidal.

“The more advanced it is, the lower the cure rate; but we can cure most of them,” he reinforced.

Dr Vidal said while late detection is problematic and there are complications when the cancer spreads to other parts of the body, new treatments have proven to be effective. He conceded, however, that they are costly and access is easier in the US than in his homeland Dominica and in Jamaica.

Debbie Baker benefitted from treatment in Jamaica after a 2023 diagnosis of borderline stage two/three breast cancer. She got checked after discovering lumps in her breasts. Her mental strength helped her get through it.

“I never considered it a death sentence. I am the type of person that if a difficulty comes to me, I look forward to solutions. I never see the cup half empty, I always see it half full,” she said during her presentation as part of the webinar.

“Yes, you can beat it. I lost my hair but I was still glowing. I found ways to deal with it, such as coloured glasses for everything I am wearing. I was still Miss Hottie Hottie, [wearing] my earrings, still bubbly, that was me,” Baker added.

She also shared her journey online.

“I started a Tik Tok page during my breast cancer fight, doing funny stuff, everyday stuff, taking pictures of myself feeling cute,” she said.

Janette Kaloo, who was diagnosed in 2013 with stage three HER2 positive local advanced breast cancer, was also determined to beat the potentially fatal disease.

“It’s not a death sentence until you make it one,” she said.

“Now I just live my life. The only thing that reminds me that I was sick is the fact that I chose not to do reconstruction. Every day I look at the scar and it does remind that me that, ‘Janette, you are a survivor’,” Kaloo said as she told her story to webinar participants.

She urged women battling breast cancer to focus on the positives and continue living their lives.

“I never worry about dying, I just focus on living; that is what I would say to anyone out there going through that,” she said.

“You can get through it; it’s not going to be easy, it’s not going to be a walk in the park but sure enough, if I can, I am sure you can get through this,” added Kaloo.

Dr Gregory Vidal, director of clinical research at the West Cancer Center and Lee S Schwartzberg Research Institute as well as associate professor at University of Tennessee Health Sciences Center, speaks on the benefits of early detection and regular screening for breast cancer.