Photo Caption: Jennifer Logan (right), breast cancer survivor, has the attention of Michael Leslie (left), acting executive director of the Jamaica Cancer Society and Carlene Edwards, head of promotions & sponsorships at the JN Group, as she shares her experience of recovering from cancer. Ms Logan was one of 100 women who received a free mammogram courtesy of the JN Group’s Power of Pink Breast Cancer Awareness campaign outreach at the Jamaica Cancer Society headquarters on October 18, which was recognised as World Mammography Day.
Jennifer Logan, a resident of Mount James in St Andrew, lost her mother and grandmother to cervical cancer and her grandfather to prostate cancer. Hence, when she noticed a visible lump in her left breast in 2016, the fear of a cancer diagnosis kept her from seeking immediate medical attention.
“Most of the people who die in my family die from cancer,” she shared, admitting that the thought of another diagnosis overwhelmed her.
“I knew something wasn’t right with my left breast; it would pain me more than the other one,” she said.
Ms Logan, who operates a business selling men’s clothing, eventually found the courage to get checked when overseas volunteers came to her then community in Castleton, St Mary, providing free medical exams. They referred her to the Stony Hill Health Centre, where a doctor referred her to the Kingston Public Hospital. After doing the various tests, she received the diagnosis that she had stage two breast cancer.
“Me seh to the doctor, nutten nuh go suh. The doctor said yes, see it right here on the docket. I got up and went home,” she recalled, acknowledging she was in a state of denial.
When she told her daughter what transpired at the hospital and that she left without making any arrangements for treatment, her daughter took her back to the hospital the next day. Ms Logan underwent chemotherapy, radiation, and Herceptin treatments.
“I was in and out of the hospital, but I wasn’t sick. It felt like God sent me there to help other people,” she reflected.
After completing treatment, Ms Logan is now cancer-free and has remained committed to her health, ensuring she gets a mammogram done every year. Prior to her diagnosis, she had never done one.
“I didn’t even know what a mammogram was back then,” she said.
Ms Logan was among 100 women who received a free mammogram this year courtesy of the JN Group’s Power of Pink Breast Cancer Awareness campaign outreach at the Jamaica Cancer Society (JCS) headquarters on October 18, which was recognised as World Mammography Day. The initiative was in collaboration with JN Money, JN Life Insurance, and the JCS.
This is the third consecutive year that the JN Group offered free mammograms. Whereas the cost of a mammogram is $6,000 at the JCS, the cost is as much as twice the amount at private facilities, making this crucial test out of the reach of many women. The number of facilities offering mammograms are also few. The Power of Pink campaign, now in its seventh year, promotes awareness by encouraging women to perform regular self-examinations and to get screened for breast cancer early, ensuring timely treatment and better outcomes.
Ms Logan urges women to prioritise early detection.
“Go in and do your mammogram. It will save your life. I’m a testimony,” she said.
Michael Leslie, acting executive director of the JCS, emphasised the importance of mammograms.
“In Jamaica, breast cancer is the number one cancer among women and the mammogram is considered to be the gold standard for breast cancer screening. A mammogram can detect a lump in your breast as small as a pinhead,” he related.
Making reference to the Global Cancer Observatory, Mr Leslie highlighted that in Jamaica, in 2022, more than 1,327 women were diagnosed with breast cancer of which 684 died, and that the incidence of breast cancer is 71.1 per 100,000 women.
“More women are being diagnosed with breast cancer in Jamaica. At the Jamaica Cancer Society, we highly recommend breast cancer screening via a mammogram,” he shared, urging women to begin annual mammograms at age 40.
Mr Leslie disclosed that more than 7,000 mammograms are done annually at the JCS.
Carlene Edwards, head of promotions & sponsorships at the JN Group, explained that the free mammograms are a key part of the Power of Pink campaign’s mission.
“We focus on breast cancer awareness because we recognise that accessibility and cost are major barriers for women seeking to do mammograms. Our goal is to provide opportunities for women to get screened because early detection saves lives,” she said.
Ms Edwards pointed out that fear of a cancer diagnosis prevents many women from getting screened.
“Fear can be overwhelming but getting a mammogram doesn’t necessarily mean bad news; it means taking control of your health. We want to encourage every woman to take that brave step. Screening empowers you to act early, increasing the chances of a full recovery,” she stressed.
