Breast Cancer: Why Early Detection Matters Now More Than Ever

By: Dr. Amar Parikh

One in eight women will develop breast cancer in her lifetime. This is a statistic we repeat often, but one that needs repeating, especially within the Caribbean community. While breast cancer affects women of all backgrounds, outcomes vary widely. For Black women, the mortality rate is about 38% higher than for White women, despite having lower diagno-sis rates. This disparity is not due to biology alone. It’s about access, awareness, and timing.

The good news? Many of these deaths can be prevented with the right tools.

Black women are more likely to be diagnosed with triple-negative breast cancer – an aggressive form that grows quickly, doesn’t respond to hormone therapy, and often appears before the age of 50. Inflammatory breast cancer, another form of aggressive breast cancer, is also more common in Black women, including those of Caribbean origin.

These types of breast cancer often go undetected until later stages, leading to lower survival rates - underlining the importance of screening and prompt diagnosis.

Early detection saves lives. When caught early, breast cancer is often curable. The most common tool for breast cancer screening is a mammogram, a low-dose X-ray of the breast. While guidelines vary, the consensus is that women should begin mammograms at the age of 40 and continue to have them every 1-2 years until at least the age of 74.

Furthermore, women who have a high lifetime risk of breast cancer, have certain genetic mutations, or have received radiation to the chest wall at a young age, benefit from an additional annual MRI of the breast starting at the age of 30. These strategies should be personalized –and that starts with an informed conversation with your physician. 

Some risk factors can’t be changed — like age, genetics, dense breasts, family history or age at first menstruation. But many are lifestyle-related and within your control:

• Alcohol Use – Limit alcohol intake to no more than one drink per day.

• Smoking – Quit smoking.

• Obesity, especially after menopause – Maintain a healthy weight. Talk to your primary care provider to determine what a healthy weight looks like for you.

• Sedentary lifestyle – Aim for at least 150 minutes of moderate-intensity exercise a week. Activities like brisk walking, Zumba, weightlifting, Pilates, or yoga are great options.

• Unhealthy diet – Avoid ultra-processed meats

and foods. Focus on whole foods such as fruits, vegetables, and fresh meats. Limit factory-produced, packaged foods.

• Hormone therapy – If needed, discuss which therapies are safer with your doctor.

• Breastfeeding – Breastfeeding has shown to reduce the risk of developing breast cancer.

Addressing the Myths

There is a lot of misinformation about breast cancer that can lead women to delay screening and treatment. Let us address a few of these. Many women delay screening or treatment

because of negative stories they’ve heard —painful side effects, hair loss, or fear of chemotherapy.

These concerns are valid, but treatment has come a long way. Many women today don’t need chemotherapy. Newer treatments, such as targeted therapies, hormone blockers, and personalized medicine, can be effective and come with fewer side effects. And while hair loss can happen, it’s usually temporary, and hair often grows back stronger. 

Not all women with breast cancer feel lumps, and not all lumps are cancerous. While breast self-exams are no longer routinely recommended, it’s still important to be familiar with what’s normal for your breasts. 

Having smaller breasts is not protective against breast cancer. Breast cancer typically begins in the ducts or lobules, not the fatty tissue of the breast. In fact, it is more important to be aware of your breast density, which can be determined by a mammogram. Women with denser breasts are at an increased risk of developing breast cancer. Men can get breast cancer too. While not nearly as common as women, being a man does not mean that you are exempt from breast cancer.

A Call to Action

In many Caribbean households, discussing health, especially breast health, is considered private. We must break that silence. Talk about symptoms. Share family histories. Encourage screening. If you notice a lump, nipple discharge, or skin changes, don’t wait. See a provider. 

Learn your family history: Has your mother, sister, or aunt had breast or ovarian cancer? Have they been tested for BRCA mutations? This knowledge can shape your personal screening plan. 

Breast cancer doesn’t have to be a death sentence - not for Black women, not for Caribbean women, not for anyone. Early detection, timely treatment, and open dialogue are essential. Breast cancer is beatable. But only if we face it together