THE Ministry of Health has expanded cancer screening and support services across Guyana, including increasing the number of mammography machines from one to at least seven, as government intensifies efforts to promote early detection and treatment.
Health Minister Dr Frank Anthony made the disclosure during the launch of One Communications’ PinkTOBER 2026, where he highlighted measures being implemented to improve access to cancer-related services.
The mammography machines are now located in Georgetown, Suddie, Linden, New Amsterdam and Lethem, providing women in several regions with greater access to breast cancer screening.
According to Anthony, 1,667 mammograms have been conducted from January to September this year using the expanded screening capacity.
The minister said prostate cancer is currently the most common cancer diagnosed in Guyana, followed by breast, cervical and colorectal cancers. Together, the four account for 46 per cent of cancers diagnosed in 2026.
He said 704 people have so far been diagnosed with cancer this year, noting that some cancers may be preventable through early detection, vaccination and other interventions.
Anthony said that while improved access to screening services was an important step, changing public attitudes towards screening remains a major challenge.
“The first challenge is changing people’s mindset,” he said, urging citizens to take advantage of screening services as early as possible.
The minister specifically encouraged women to undergo breast cancer screening and urged men to be screened for prostate cancer through the Prostate Specific Antigen (PSA) test. Vouchers are available for the PSA screening.
He also encouraged parents to ensure that boys and girls between nine and 15 years receive the Human Papillomavirus (HPV) vaccine. The vaccine is intended to reduce the risk of HPV-related cancers, including cervical cancer in women and penile cancer in men. HPV vaccine vouchers are also available.
Anthony highlighted colorectal cancer as another area of concern, disclosing that 43 people have been diagnosed with the disease since January.
“People don’t like to talk about it, but it exists,” he said, while announcing that the ministry is working with partners to establish a programme offering colonoscopy services to improve the diagnosis of colorectal cancer.
The minister also pointed to international partnerships being developed to strengthen Guyana’s capacity to manage cancer and improve professional training.
These include collaborations with Mount Sinai and Northwell, which Anthony described as institutions with established expertise in cancer care.
The Ministry of Health has also partnered with MD Anderson Cancer Center to build on existing efforts in cervical cancer prevention and management.
Educational and training opportunities are being developed through partnerships with McMaster University and the National Cancer Institute in Nagpur, India, where Guyanese healthcare professionals are being trained.
More recently, the ministry established a partnership with Expertise France through a European Union-supported project known as HelpNext. The initiative will provide opportunities for Guyanese personnel to receive specialised training in France.
Anthony said the Government’s broader objective is to expand access to services while building capacity locally and strengthening partnerships that can improve cancer prevention, diagnosis and treatment.
He said the measures are intended to give patients and families greater confidence that cancer care and support services will continue to improve in Guyana.