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Beyond Pink. Ask what you don't dare to ask out loud. It's anonymous, and your answer comes from a woman who has been through it.

Ask a question Where to get a mammogram

What you should know

In Paraguay, if you are 40 or older, you don't need a referral for a mammogram

At Ministry of Health facilities, your ID card is all you need. A yearly mammogram is recommended, and not only in October.

Resolution SG No. 336/2024 of Paraguay's Ministry of Public Health and Social Welfare.

Living in another country? Screening ages and requirements vary from place to place. Ask your local health service or doctor what applies to you.

See where to go

It is the most common cancer among women in Paraguay It is also the leading cause of cancer death among women in the country. In 2023, the National Cancer Institute (INCAN) alone diagnosed more than 600 new cases.
Paraguay's Ministry of Health (in Spanish)
Finding it early changes the outcome A mammogram can find cancer even before it causes any symptoms, which allows for more timely treatment.
Working in Paraguay? You have two paid days a year for your check-ups Law No. 6211/18 gives every working woman in Paraguay two paid working days a year to get a mammogram and a Pap test.

Changes that always deserve a check-up

A lump or thickening in the breast or armpit
Changes in the size or shape of the breast
Dimpled or puckered skin, or skin that looks like orange peel
A nipple that turns inward or changes direction
Discharge from the nipple
Persistent redness or flaking

None of these changes necessarily means cancer, but if you notice any of them, see a health professional, whatever your age.

Before your mammogram

Bring your IDIn Paraguay, from age 40 it is all you need at public health services.
On the day, don't use cream, talcum powder or deodorant on your breasts or underarmsThey can show up on the image, be mistaken for lesions and mean the test has to be repeated.
If breast cancer runs in your family, don't wait until 40It is recommended to see a breast specialist earlier, from age 30.
Paraguay's Social Security Institute, IPS (in Spanish)

Myths and answers

Common doubts and anonymous questions we receive, answered by a survivor and reviewed by a health professional.

"Nobody in my family has had breast cancer, so it won't happen to me."

That's not the case. The vast majority of cases are not hereditary: at the breast clinic of IPS Central Hospital in Paraguay, about 90% of diagnoses are sporadic cases, and only 5% to 10% are linked to genetic factors. That's why check-ups are for everyone.

Source: Paraguay's Social Security Institute, IPS (in Spanish)

"To get a mammogram, I first need a doctor to give me a referral."

In Paraguay, not from age 40. At public health services you can get a mammogram by showing only your ID card. If you live in another country, check the rules where you are.

Source: Paraguay's Ministry of Health, Pink October (in Spanish)

Your question, no name attached

Many doubts about breast cancer never get said out loud. Here you can write yours without identifying yourself.

We don't ask for your name, email or phone number.
Questions are read before they are published, and anything that could identify you is removed.
Answers appear on this page and on the club's social media.

If you have a symptom or an urgent situation, don't wait for an answer: go straight to a health service.

Where to go

Health services and organizations in Paraguay where you can get tested, ask for guidance or find support. Their websites are in Spanish.

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Send it to your mother, your sister, your friends or your work group.

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