Guyana Cancer Foundation reiterates call for low-cost radiation therapy centre

…launches activities to raise cancer awareness

Since its inception in 2016, the Guyana Cancer Foundation, led by Bibi Hassan, has been providing assistance to breast, cervical and prostate cancer patients through donations, medical outreaches, and screening opportunities.
As October marks Breast Cancer Awareness Month, these efforts continue with renewed energy as the Foundation seeks to mobilise community leaders and members to promote awareness of the disease, its treatment, and the need for early detection.
On Thursday, Hassan spoke with Guyana Times about the Foundation’s work and the month-long roster of activities planned under its theme, “Pink Power”.
Hassan explained that the inspiration for the Foundation emerged from her experience as caregiver to her mother in 2008 as she successfully battled Stage Two breast cancer. Since then, she continues to provide care for others in need.
“We try to get our low-income, medically under-served and uninsured persons to get screened for breast cancer. We also do cervical cancer screening. Since 2019, we have partnered with Dr Balwant Singh’s Hospital to do our free mammogram and sonogram screening programme,” Hassan said.
She clarified that the Foundation previously conducted cervical cancer screenings through the Georgetown Public Hospital Corporation (GPHC), but challenged by its overcrowding, they initiated screening through Dr Balwant Singh’s Hospital in January.

Activities
On Tuesday, the Foundation kicked off its events planned for the month with a tree wrapping ceremony along Main Street, Georgetown, which – Hassan noted – received a positive response from a number of survivors and dignitaries who attended.
During the ceremony, British High Commissioner Jane Miller encouraged women to get tested regularly.
“Cancer is everywhere. It’s not just in October; it’s throughout the whole year. But October is the month that gives us some time to really focus on the issue,” Miller said, according to a Guyana Cancer Foundation social media video.
“I think it’s really great for us to be thinking about what we could be doing to prevent cancer. In Guyana, there are now machines that can do mammograms. Those machines are great, but they’re only good if you get tested,” Miller said.

No Bra Day
The Foundation’s activities continue next Friday with No Bra Day.
“What you normally do on that day, women don’t wear a bra and they take out pictures with a tank top and the men will wear a bra over their shirt to support the women who have lost their breasts to cancer. It’s like a social media [campaign] and we ask people to hashtag #GuyanaCancer Foundation with the pictures,” Hassan said.
“The next event is National Mammography Day on October 20,” Hassan said, adding that this activity was created to urge women to get screened for breast cancer.
Also, on October 20 is Wear it Pink Friday through which persons are encouraged to wear pink—the colour designated for breast cancer awareness – to highlight their support for breast cancer patients and survivors.
Meanwhile, on October 22, the Foundation will be hosting a Breast Cancer Awareness Walk at 06:00h, from the Seawall Bandstand, along Main Street to the Bank of Guyana and back.
“And then on October 27, to close off Breast Cancer Awareness Programme, we have a candlelight vigil on [East Street, where the Foundation is located] to honour our breast cancer survivors, fighters and also the ones who’ve lost the battle,” Hassan said.

Radiation Therapy
As Hassan seeks to continue advancing care of breast cancer patients in Guyana, she also issued a call to President Dr Irfaan Ali to establish a low-cost radiation therapy centre.
“I’ve been advocating for this since 2020, because many, many patients come to me and they can’t afford to pay for the radiation therapy because these costs are from $550,000 and it goes to $1.4 million,” Hassan said.
She noted that based on the type of cancer and its stage of advancement, patients may have to get radiation therapy to survive and, therefore, require easier access to this treatment. (G13)