Partners urged to help spot breast cancer warning signs

Partners are being urged to pay closer attention to their loved ones’ bodies, as their watchful eyes could play a critical role in spotting the warning signs of breast cancer.

Founder and Clinical Director of the Breast Health & Oncology Care Centre at Andrews Memorial Hospital, breast surgeon and breast surgical oncologist Dr Jason Copeland, told THE STAR that women over 20 years old are encouraged to perform regular breast self-examinations to develop an appreciation of their own breast features.

“The examination should be done monthly, a few days after completion of the menstrual cycle if the patient is premenopausal, or if the patient is post-menopausal, then any set day of the month can be used,“ he said.

Still, Copeland shared that partners also play a crucial role in observing their spouses’ breasts. He explained that despite women examining themselves, “many breast abnormalities are actually picked up by the patient’s intimate partner who may notice breast asymmetry, lumps, nipple discharge or abnormal skin changes”. Partners are urged not to ignore unusual lumps, changes in breast appearance or other abnormalities.

The importance of partners in recognising the signs was highlighted in the story of Kenise Pinnock-Powell, a school teacher who spotted an unusual lump and called her husband in to take a second look. Pinnock-Powell, who was diagnosed with stage one breast cancer and is now in remission, told THE STAR about the discovery that happened about two years ago.

“I was actually showering to go to work and I felt a strange thing, a lump and I was like ‘I didn’t feel this two days or a day ago’. So I called my husband in the shower and asked him and he was like ‘yes’,” she recalled. She said that her family did not shrug off the discovery or hesitate to take it seriously, as the only thing that came to mind when she felt the lump was cancer.

Copeland said that one of the greatest misconceptions surrounding breast cancer is that “if the lump doesn’t hurt then it can’t be a cancer”. However, the oncologist pointed out that the harsh reality is that most breast lumps associated with cancer do not cause pain. He said that approximately 90 per cent of patients in Jamaica with breast cancer have a breast lump which does not cause pain.

He further explained that beyond recognising the warning signs, it is important for patients to have a strong support system as they battle the disease.

“Breast cancer patients with strong support systems, inclusive of intimate partners, do better at navigating complex health services that can be associated with breast cancer. These patients are more likely to maintain their clinical appointments, be compliant with treatment and have less psychosocial and psychosexual dysfunction after breast cancer treatment. Overall, they have up to 25 per cent improvement in their survival outcomes compared to patients without the required support and navigation systems,” he said.

Breast cancer remains the most common cancer among women worldwide, with an estimated 2.4 million new cases diagnosed in 2024 and approximately 694,000 deaths globally. It is listed as the most common cancer among women in Jamaica, with 1,310 new cases and 695 deaths recorded in 2024.

Copeland reinforced that early detection can save lives, as patients diagnosed at an early stage can benefit from treatment associated with lower costs and fewer complications.

“Early stage at diagnosis of breast cancer is one of the most important determinants of patient outcomes. These patients have the best long-term prognosis with appropriate multidisciplinary management. Patients with locally advanced or metastatic breast cancer typically have poor survival.”