In the last few months, two people to whom I am very close have been diagnosed with breast cancer – one HER2 (Human Epidural Growth Factor Receptor 2) positive and the other ER (Oestrogen Receptor) positive. Both recently began their roads to recovery within weeks of each other, both in different countries, neither one knows the other, together they straddle fifty years old. These are not the only two women with whom I am friends to have received this dreaded diagnosis. Just over ten years ago, another dear friend had a double mastectomy, chemotherapy and radiation treatments. She was in her early forties and now thrives as a survivor. That said, it’s been a very rocky road – and I don’t mean the ice cream, but maybe I should take her some! Another sweet friend of mine got her news during the pandemic and she is still on her arduous journey. Then there are the women whose jobs literally involve fitness and health – two of them whom I know were diagnosed last year. Oh, and what about three of my mum’s best friends who have had it – sadly, only two survived. And let’s not forget the men – rare as it is, men DO get breast cancer. I personally know of three.

Each one of these aforementioned people knows others with breast cancer and I have not included the people I have heard about through others, nor have I included the strangers whom I interviewed for an article about breast cancer, which I wrote several years ago.

Do we see a pattern here, folks? The anecdotal pattern: there are a trailer load of ladies who have breast cancer and the risk factors are being a woman and growing older! The good news is that most breast cancers are treatable, especially if detected early.

Statistics coming out of the United Kingdom predict 1 in 7 women will get breast cancer in their lifetime, while in Jamaica it’s 1 in 21 women. However, in the UK the NHS (National Health Service) automatically sends women letters with a set date for a mammogram, and further breast screening if deemed necessary, when they turn 50 years old. And, by the way, the NHS is free for UK residents. We don’t have this type of vigilance in Jamaica. Are there simply many women who are never screened? Which begs the question: are our statistics accurate? Should our government be doing all it can to ensure that more women get screened, and earlier than they currently do? In the USA, 1 in 8 women will be diagnosed with breast cancer and the recommendation is for women 40 years to 74 years old be screened at least every two years, in some cases every year, and starting younger if they are at a higher risk.

There is also a lot of talk about whether your breasts are dense or not and how this relates to screening. It is harder to detect breast cancer with a mammogram if one’s breasts are dense, so an ultrasound is also advisable. And, by the way, breast density has nothing to do with the size or firmness of your breast, rather how much fibrous and glandular tissue is in them. So, my fellow itty bitty, not so firmy, ladies, please don’t assume you are safe because you don’t “feel” anything out of the ordinary. Please, all ladies, get screened for breast cancer.