Teacher Gets Yearly Mammograms for Daughter’s Sake

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Forty-one-year-old Carol Campbell (left), who is doing her second mammogram, holds a conversation with Hugh Reid (middle), general manager of JN Life Insurance Limited and Carlene Edwards (right), head of promotions & sponsorships at The Jamaica National Group at JN Power of Pink free mammogram event held at The Jamaica Cancer Society on October 18, World Mammography Day. She started doing her mammograms at age 40 and intends to do them every year.

Fuelled by the need to live as long as possible to care for and watch her seven-year-old daughter develop, 41-year-old Carol Campbell started doing yearly mammograms to detect breast cancer at the prescribed age of 40.

She said that she is aware that early detection saves lives.

A prep school teacher, Mrs Campbell decided to take advantage of one of the 100 free mammograms sponsored by The Jamaica National Group during its annual Power of Pink breast cancer campaign, in partnership with the Jamaica Cancer Society, (JCS) on October 18, which was celebrated as World Mammogram Day.

The event took place at the JCS headquarters in St Andrew.

“I have a seven-year-old. I must be responsible to myself and do the right thing by continuing to get tested as I have her to live for. My husband is also quite supportive of the decision,” she explained.

She noted that she was fearful of doing the procedure at first because she felt grains in her breast but when she did the test, it turned out to be non-cancerous cysts. The grade four educator said the procedure puts a bit of pressure on the breasts, but it doesn’t last for long.

Mrs Campbell also revealed that her non-biological grandmother who raised her mother died from breast cancer, so it also propelled her to get her mammograms done as soon as she turned 40 years old.

“It’s always said that early detection saves lives. I have a lot to live for, and I am grateful for life and the family God has blessed me with,” she said.

Carlene Edwards, head of sponsorships and promotions at the JN Group, commended Mrs Campbell on her move to undertake annual mammograms and encouraged other women to do the same.

“Breast cancer is the leading cause of cancer in Jamaican women and is also the leading cause of cancer-related deaths among us. Studies also show that the earlier breast cancer is detected, the easier it is to treat and the higher the chance of survival. I want to applaud Mrs Campbell for her efforts which are in keeping with our theme for this year, ‘Take the Brave Steps’,” Ms Edwards outlined.

She also pointed out that as an ardent supporter of breast cancer awareness, the JN Group has provided free mammograms for the third consecutive year because they understand the need for more women to be diagnosed at an earlier stage, to decrease deaths and increase the survival rate of breast cancer patients.

Celebrating the seventh staging of its Power of Pink campaign, Ms Edwards noted that the public was given a chance to contribute by donating at JN Money agents locally and internationally in the UK, US, Canada and Cayman markets, in the donation tins provided.

Ms Edwards also stated that for persons who opened a critical illness policy with JN Life Insurance during October will also benefit from J$5,000 towards their premium.