Dr Jennifer Mamby-Alexander's newly launched book 'A Practical Guide to Coping With Cancer'. - Alana Igbe/Freelance Photographer

As October comes to an end, we hope that you are more aware of the risks for developing breast cancer. It can affect women of every age, race and ethnicity.

According to the National Cancer Registry in Jamaica, since 1999, breast cancer leads cervical cancer as the number one cancer among Jamaican women.

Although the exact causes of breast cancer are unclear, we know that the main risk factors are; family history of the disease, a high-fat diet, increasing age, and prolonged exposure to female hormones.

Early detection

However, most breast cancer deaths have been attributed to the stage, or extent of the cancer when diagnosed. The good news is that women (like myself) diagnosed with cancer, live longer and better than before. Many are completely cured, and have a bright future.

This is because of several reasons. Having a primary-care doctor, increases the chance that a woman will receive appropriate preventative care, including routine check-ups and screening, that can detect disorders at an early age. Breast cancer treatment has also made great strides in recent years. Researchers have learned that breast cancers are not identical, and so, as tumours differ from individual to individual, treatment can be made specific for each person, because of specific genetic differences in each person's tumour.

Clinical observations from my practice over an 11-year period, has shown that there is a significant onset of breast cancer at age 35. Assuming that the tumour growth began within five years of the diagnosis, we should therefore begin active screening by age 30.

Other methods

It is known that mammograms are not very effective as screening women at this age, but we are still actively diagnosing breast cancers at this age by physical examinations, ultrasounds and biopsies.

Early screening, identifies the disease earlier in its evolution, and identifies cancers that may never develop to a life threatening stage. A delay in screening at an earlier age, will result in a failure to reduce mortality.

Being unaware of a disease's risks and symptoms, and certain cultural beliefs and mistrust of the health care system, may keep some women from participating in routine preventative care.

More education needed

There continues to be an enormous need for more education and resources on breast cancer screening and prevention to reach women. You may get information from your cancer society, health care providers and newspapers.

Your obligation as a person on this Earth is to expect the best from yourself, for yourself and others, to succeed, survive, and to never let any statistic or criterion limit you. And most of all, be a winner and never give up.

Dr Jennifer Mamby-Alexander has triumphed over breast cancer for 20 years, and is the author of A Practical Guide to Coping With Cancer.