Breast Cancer Awareness

It is that time of year again, when streets, malls, and buildings are decorated in pink to signify the International Month for Breast Cancer Awareness, and information booths are set up across the country to distribute leaflets on breast cancer and the importance of early detection. As the National Body that oversees all breast cancer-related activities in the Kingdom, the Jordan Breast Cancer Program (JBCP) and its partners have dedicated a major focus of this October’s Breast Cancer Awareness Campaign on men.

Although the incidence of breast cancer in men compared to women may be minimal (ratio of 1:95 according to the 2008 Jordan National Cancer Registry), the role they could play in influencing a woman’s decision to seek screening and early detection services is in fact, quite significant. According to a recent study conducted by JBCP, men – specifically husbands – are often perceived by women as an impediment to seeking breast health services. This should not be the case, and the campaign through various efforts will attempt to reverse this widespread albeit not unanimous trend.

The month of October is about celebrating the women in our lives, just as much as it is about raising awareness. So to celebrate your mother, grandmother, sister or daughter this October, you could help make a difference by offering your support and encouraging them to make an appointment for a breast health exam. There are three main types of breast exams; two of which are conducted by a healthcare provider:

1.Self Breast Examination (SBE): Self breast exams should be performed on a regular monthly basis starting in adolescent years. SBE should be performed in combination with clinical breast exams and mammograms, and not as a substitute for either method. The purpose of SBE is for a woman to gain familiarity with the composition of her breasts and to know how her breasts normally feel, so as to identify and immediately report any new breast changes to a health professional should they occur. Your healthcare provider can instruct you on the technique of performing SBE. It is important to remember that although most breast lumps are not cancerous, all breast lumps should be evaluated by a medical professional.

2.Clinical Breast Examination (CBE): Clinical breast exams are considered to be an essential part of breast cancer screening for all women. During a CBE, a physician carefully examines a woman’s breasts, nipples and underarm area to check for lumps, abnormalities, or any unusual changes.

3. Mammogram: A mammogram is a special low dose x-ray of the breast that can detect cancer up to three years before a woman or her healthcare provider can feel a lump. Mammography has been shown to reduce the death rate from breast cancer by 20% provided women undergo screening biennially from age 40 years. According to Jordan’s National Guidelines, women aged 40-52 years should have a mammogram once every 1 to 2 years and women above the age of 52 are advised to have mammograms every 2 years.

For more information on breast cancer or for a list of centers that offer clinical breast exams and discounted mammograms, please contact the Jordan Breast Cancer Program on 0 800 22 246.