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The Jamaica Cancer Society (JCS) marked a significant milestone in its public health advocacy efforts with the successful staging of its inaugural ‘Early Detection Saves Lives’ radio telethon, a national fundraising and awareness initiative to raise $50 million towards the acquisition of a state-of-the-art mammography machine.
This critical investment is aimed at strengthening early breast cancer detection, promoting cancer screening and early diagnosis, and improving health outcomes across the island.
The new equipment will also significantly enhance the organisation’s screening capabilities, allowing for faster, more accurate diagnoses and expanded access to mammograms, particularly for women in underserved and high-risk communities.
Broadcast live on Gospel Ja FM radio, the telethon united healthcare professionals, cancer survivors, corporate partners, media personalities, and concerned citizens in a powerful call to action: get screened, get informed, and save lives.
The radio telethon focused on educating the public about the importance of early detection for cancers, such as breast, cervical, prostate, and colorectal cancer, which continue to impact thousands of Jamaicans each year. Speaking during the broadcast, Roshane Reid-Koomson, executive director of the Jamaica Cancer Society, emphasised the urgency of the initiative.
“Too many lives are lost because cancer is detected too late. Early detection truly saves lives, and this telethon is about breaking fear, misinformation, and barriers to screening,” she said.
Reid-Koomson explained that the new machine is critical to the Cancer Society’s mission of providing world-class breast cancer-screening services. “We want every woman to have access to modern, accurate, and timely breast cancer screening. Replacing our current machine with advanced technology is a major step in improving the quality of care we provide. Early detection truly saves lives, and this telethon is about providing fighting chance,” she said.
DIAGNOSED AT A LATE STAGE
Breast cancer continues to be the second-leading cause of cancer in incidence and mortality. In 2022, the Global Cancer Observatory reported that 1,327 Jamaican women were diagnosed with breast cancer, and 684 lost their lives that year.
Reid-Koomson lamented that too many women are still being diagnosed at a late stage.
“Far too many women are not screening routinely, by age 40 according to the national screening guidelines. As a result, they present with metastatic breast cancer, which significantly reduces their chances of survival,” she said.
For 70 years, the Jamaica Cancer Society has served as a trusted national cancer advocacy, education, screening and support provider. To date, the JCS has raised $915,000 online towards its $50-million goal, but significant funding is still needed.
“We are seeking the kind assistance of Jamaicans at home and abroad. The diaspora has always stood with us, and we are relying on your support at this critical time. Every single donation, large or small, brings us closer to saving more lives. We hope that by the end of the telethon we will have taken a significant step forward,” Reid-Koomson appealed.
The telethon, originally scheduled for October 28, 2025 when Hurricane Melissa made landfall in Jamaica, was planned as the grand finale of the Jamaica Cancer Society’s Breast Cancer Awareness Month activities.
“Although our operations were affected, including our St Elizabeth and St Ann branches, the urgency of replacing the mammography machine did not change. We decided to move forward with the telethon because cancer will not wait for systems to stabilise. We cannot delay early detection. By pressing ahead, we are ensuring continuity of care for the women who rely on us,” Reid-Koomson said.
Listeners were encouraged to call in, donate, and share personal testimonies, creating an emotional and informative programme that resonated nationwide.
PIVOTAL ROLE
The telethon also received strong backing from corporate sponsors and community partners, whose donations will also help fund screening programmes, mobile clinics, patient assistance, and education campaigns.
The Culture, Health, Arts, Sports and Education (CHASE) Fund was the title sponsor for the inaugural event. CHASE Fund’s Project Manager, Latoya Foster, said they are committed to strengthening Jamaica’s healthcare system, and early detection remains one of the most powerful tools we have in the fight against cancer.
“Supporting the Jamaica Cancer Society’s fundraising initiative for a new mammogram machine aligns perfectly with our mission. This investment will expand access to life-saving screening for women across the island, particularly those who are underserved. We are proud to stand with the Society in advancing cancer care and improving health outcomes for our people,” Foster said.
Suzette Faulknor, chief executive officer at Talk About It, said supporting the initiative was about investing in life. “When we support early detection, we support families, productivity, and national development. Too many women are still being diagnosed at advanced stages. This new mammography machine will detect breast cancer earlier, when treatment is more effective and survival rates are higher,” she said.
Additional sponsors included the Apotex - distributed by the Cari-Med Group Limited, Sagicor, National Health Fund, Jamaica Co-operative Credit Union League,
Guardian General Insurance Jamaica Limited, Barita Foundation, Fontana Pharmacy, and Mona Graphic Printers.
Apotex Pharmaceuticals also donated 100 Prostate-Specific Antigen (PSA) tests, which were offered free of charge to the first 100 men who visited the Jamaica Cancer Society during the telethon. The National Health Fund also underwrote 20 mammograms, 20 Pap smears, and 20 PSA tests, all provided at no cost to the public.
For decades, the Jamaica Cancer Society has played a pivotal role in cancer education, screening, and patient support services. The acquisition of the new mammography machine represents a continuation of that legacy, aligning with its mission to reduce cancer-related deaths through prevention and early intervention.
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