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Breast cancer is one of the most prevalent cancers among Jamaican women, with approximately 1,208 new breast cancer cases diagnosed in 2020, followed by cervical cancer .

According to the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC), breast cancer is most common in women but men can also get breast cancer. In the United States, one out of every 100 breast cancers diagnosed are found in men.

Each year, the month of October is observed as Breast Cancer Awareness Month, which seeks to raise awareness about the disease while encouraging women to get their screening done to reduce the risk of breast cancer.

While there is no hard-proven fact that there are ways to prevent breast cancer, there are some steps that women can take to lower their risk of developing breast cancer.

Exercise

Studies have shown that exercise can help to reduce the risk of women developing breast cancer because exercise helps reduce body fat for women who have passed the age of menopause.

It is recommended that women spend between 150 to 300 minutes of their day doing physical activity to ward off illnesses such as breast cancer.

Reduce alcohol intake

According to the World Health Organization (WHO), alcohol consumption is one of the major modifiable risk factors for breast cancer.

Women can reduce their risk of developing breast cancer by saying no to alcoholic beverages or reducing their intake significantly.

It is recommended that women who consume alcoholic beverages, only have one alcoholic beverage per day.

Breastfeed if possible

Studies have shown that the act of a mother breastfeeding her newborn child not only provides much-needed nourishment for the young one but also helps to reduce her risk of developing breast cancer.

According to the CDC, breastfeeding reduces a mother’s lifetime exposure to hormones such as estrogen, which is linked to an increased risk of breast and ovarian cancers.

Maintain a healthy diet

A diet filled with fruits, vegetables, whole grains, nuts, and beans is not only delicious but they are packed with essential nutrients that can help ward off certain diseases such as breast cancer.

Studies have shown that fruits and vegetables contain fiber, minerals, antioxidants, and phytochemicals, which can help to boost the body’s immune system to reduce the risk of certain cancers.

Screening

While breast cancer screening is not a prevention measure for breast cancer, it allows women to detect early signs of the disease to aid in treatment.

It is recommended that women who are 40 years and older do an annual mammogram to screen for breast cancer.

Likewise, it is recommended that women who are below the age of 40 years and who may have a family history of breast cancer get screened for the disease.