In Jamaica, breast cancer is the leading cancer in women, followed by cervical cancer. Approximately 300 women die from breast cancer each year.

The incidence is 43 per 100,000, attributing to approximately 1,200 new cases per year. The fatality rate is 50%, three times the rate of the United States. This is mainly due to delayed diagnosis.

Screening for breast cancer is well below the expected rate. It is less than 10% of the eligible population. Causes are multifactorial. Lack of a formal screening program at government hospitals is the main reason, so the burden falls on the population to seek private health care. The process involves a visit to a private doctor; paying a fee; obtaining a requisition for the mammogram; scheduling the procedure; getting the procedure done and paying the fee; and revisiting the private doctor for the report, that requires yet another fee. All this is literally out of reach for the vast majority of the population.