Just over 100 women in western Jamaica may have to wait indefinitely for already-paid-for mammograms as there is only one of the specialised machines used for early detection of breast cancer functioning in that part of the country.

The situation has left Misty Blue Cancer Care Foundation — a non-profit organisation in Westmoreland — struggling to conduct its annual mammogram drive. According to founder and chair Dorothy Satchwell, 115 mammograms have already been paid for. Sandals Foundation sponsored 50, American Friends of Jamaica sponsored 50, and Scotiabank Jamaica sponsored 15.

“We only had one agency in Western Jamaica that had a working mammogram machine, which was Hospiten Montego Bay [a private hospital in St James]. After the first week of October it broke down. So, even though we have paid for 115 mammograms, they are not being done because there is not a working machine in the region,” Satchwell told the Jamaica Observer Thursday on the sidelines of the Misty Blue Cancer Care Foundation Limited Faith Gifford Symposium held at Sandals South Coast.

She said that there is no public hospital within the Western Regional Health Authority (WRHA) that currently has a functioning machine. The WRHA manages public hospitals and clinics in Westmoreland, Hanover, St James, and Trelawny.

However, when contacted, the clinical coordinator for the WRHA Dr Delroy Fray told the Observer that of the four hospitals in the region, only Cornwall Regional Hospital is equipped with a working machine.

“Cornwall Regional has a mammogram machine. However, because of our staff limitation we curtail it to doing only patients who are highly suspicious of cancer or patients in our clinic that requires it. But, at the same time, for someone who cannot afford a private mammogram get referred to our place, and we assess the urgency of it, they will accommodate them,” Dr Fray said.

The Observer checked Hospiten Montego Bay, which confirmed that its mammography machine is out of service. Radiology West in St James also said that its mammography machine is currently not working. However, it currently offers a breast computed tomography scan that provides a 3D image of the breast. That service comes at a higher rate than the regular test.

When contacted, Montego Bay Hospital and Urology Centre said that it does not do mammograms.

Misty Blue Foundation said it is working on a solution.

“We are looking, visionary-wise, fingers crossed, if by next October the foundation can find sponsorship for us to have a mobile mammogram to see if we can be more effective. Because when we look at the statistics, both the morbidity and mortality rates for breast cancer in the parish are just growing,” said Satchwell.

She said that 1,350 Westmoreland residents died from cancer in 2023, with roughly 24 deaths attributed to breast cancer.

Satchwell referred the Observer to Dr Lincoln Cox at Savanna-la-Mar General Hospital, who shared the number of women under 30 years old who are experiencing breast cancer at the end stage because “the screening mechanisms are not there”.

Dr Cox provided data culled from a five-year history of breast cancer surgeries performed at the hospital which showed a steady increase in the number between 2020 and 2024.

He said that 27 surgeries were performed in 2020, 37 in 2022, 41 in 2023, and 47 in 2024. The year 2021 — the start of the COVID-19 pandemic in Jamaica — saw 10, the lowest number recorded.

Misty Blue Foundation has been at the forefront of cancer education and early detection efforts in Westmoreland since its launch in 2015. The organisation has conducted numerous community health fairs, providing blood pressure, and blood glucose tests, as well as screenings for breast, cervical, prostate, and colorectal cancers in partnership with the Westmoreland Health Department and the National Health Fund.

Over the years, especially during October, observed as Breast Cancer Awareness Month, the foundation usually has a month-long breast cancer campaign, which is heavily funded by Sandals Foundation.

“We started mammogram drives three years ago and each year Sandals has really, really supported us by sponsoring mammograms. This year, when we had a chat with them, we wanted to move beyond just doing the mammograms and do more health awareness. We have been having a programme in the schools, where we have gone to the eight secondary schools in the parish and four primary schools. We have gone into the schools and have breast health presentations and exposed them in particular to mammograms, breast self-examination,” stated Satchwell.

Thursday’s symposium was endorsed by the Ministry of Health and Wellness, and Satchwell said the foundation hopes to collaborate more closely with State Minister Krystal Lee to develop parish-level cancer care initiatives. Among those attending the symposium were students from a number of schools, including Little London High where Randall Gordon is the guidance counsellor.

“It is a very important move and I believe that it will all go well for them in the future as they can practise what they have learnt here. The presentations were robust and rich with data. So, I believe that it would have helped them,” stated Gordon, who noted that cancer can affect men and women as well as children.

During Thursday’s symposium Faith Gifford, a founding member of the foundation who passed earlier this year, was remembered as a tireless advocate who supported patients through their journey with courage and compassion.

Founder and chair of Misty Blue Cancer Care Foundation Dorothy Satchwell. (Photo: Anthony Lewis)

A section of the audience at Misty Blue Cancer Care Foundation Limited’s Faith Gifford Symposium held at Sandals South Coast on Thursday. (Photo: Anthony Lewis)