In 2019, breast cancer replaced lung cancer as the leading cause of death by cancer, among black women, according to an article published by the American Cancer Society. Black women, now more than ever, are being confronted with the reality of high breast cancer rates in their communities all over the world. This realization has led to an increase in the number of black women aiming to find information about breast cancer, and possible preventive measures that can lower their risk. 

How Breast Cancer affects Women of all Races & Ethnicities?

Breast cancer affects women of all races and ethnicities, but the diagnoses, treatment, and mortality rates will vary greatly in different communities. This is usually because of the difference in culture and lifestyle practices, both of which tend to either increase or reduce the risk that each community of women would have.  

In Afro-Caribbean and black communities specifically, there is a stigma surrounding the medical field that causes both men and women to stay away from doctors’ offices and hospitals, despite feeling unwell.  Because of this stigma, black women generally avoid medical appointments and are less likely to be screened or even tested for breast cancer. This, in conjunction with common lifestyle practices such as smoking, a lack of exercise, and unhealthy food choices can also contribute to the development of certain diseases, including breast cancer. 

Do women of African Ancestry have the Highest rate of Breast Cancer?

While research remains ongoing, studies have shown that women of African descent do have a higher rate of breast cancer among women younger than 45. Overall, black women do not have the highest rate of diagnoses of breast cancer globally, but they do have one of the highest mortality rates. In the US alone, it is reported that African American women have a 31% breast cancer mortality rate, which is the highest of all other races and ethnicities. 

The two factors listed above are factors that contribute to these numbers, but they are not the only factors to consider. Studies also show that there are disparities that exist between the diagnosis, treatment, and levels of mortality of this condition in black women. These disparities include genetics, lack of accessible treatment options, and lack of financial preparedness for long-term health issues in black women when compared to women of other races. 

The Olive Branch of Hope (TOBOH) has launched in part to help reduce/eliminate the health disparities within black communities. TOBOH works to support cancer survivors in the community and is becoming a ray of hope for many black women surviving or diagnosed with breast cancer.  

Do genetics play a part in these high rates or can it be prevented?

Cancer is generally not regarded as a hereditary condition, but new and continuing studies have proven that certain genetic traits in black women make them more likely to develop a more aggressive form of breast cancer than in women of other races. Recent studies have highlighted that two gene variants found in women of African Ancestry may be one of the reasons that they are so highly diagnosed. 

Specifically, Dr. Juliet Daniels, professor, and Cancer Biologist at McMaster University discovered a new gene ‘Kaiso’, that “regulates the expression of genes that control cell proliferation and adhesion.” Because of this, the malfunction of Kaiso in human tumors including the breast has been shown to increase the spread and progression of that tumor. 

In one particular study conducted by Dr. Daniels and her team, it was discovered that women of African Ancestry possessed a higher level of nuclear Kaiso expression, in comparison to their caucasian counterparts. This highlights that Afro-Caribbean and black women are genetically more predisposed to developing Triple-Negative Breast Cancer (TNBC), especially at a younger age, than women of other races. 

In another study conducted by researchers at Cornell Medicine, it was discovered that a similar protective gene that helps the body to fight the development of breast cancer, was specifically lacking in black women. This gene is also crucial in helping to fight against TNBC. Because of this, black women are more likely to die when they develop breast cancer, as TNBC is one of the more aggressive forms of breast cancer that there is.

This is also exacerbated by the fact that black women, specifically African American women, were less likely to receive standard treatments as opposed to their white counterparts. The Journal of American Medical Association (JAMA) found that these high rates of mortality were also faulted by the fact that there was a lack of access to proper care and treatment, in the communities of young African American women with breast cancer.

So yes, genetics does play a role in the development of breast cancer, especially in young black women, but does that mean that every black woman should expect to die from breast cancer? No. Implementing lifestyle and cultural changes as well as improving our ability to receive standard treatments is one way that we can each do our part in fighting the statistics. 

What can/should black women do to reduce their risk?

Though cancer is unpredictable, there are scientifically-backed recommendations that women of African ancestry all over the world can incorporate to reduce their risk of both developing and dying from breast cancer. These tips are not 100% foolproof, but they have proven to be effective at helping a lot of black women to remain breast cancer-free. 

Maintain a healthy weight and diet

Lifestyle choices are one of the biggest cheat codes to life, and it is no different when it comes to breast cancer. While there is no evidence to suggest a healthy diet and exercise routine can eliminate the risk of breast cancer, there are statistics that suggest the opposite. Obesity and genetics put black women at an increased risk of developing diseases including cancers, and generally reduce life expectancy in black women. 

Deciding to maintain a healthy weight and diet and exercise regularly can have a significant impact on reducing stress, improving sleeping patterns, and adding to peace of mind in general. These factors overall contribute to your overall wellness and help in preventing your body from developing certain conditions including cancers. 

We recommend prioritizing a healthy weight to reduce the risk of developing breast cancer.

Importance of screening and early detection

One of the main reasons, as listed in the statistics outlined above, that black women have the highest mortality rates when it comes to breast cancer is because they are less likely to be screened early. This means that when the disease has been noticed by doctors, it is usually within the last or most developed stages of the disease. This reduces the efficacy of treatment and increases the risk of mortality in black women. 

To monitor, and reduce the mortality rate for breast cancer in women of African ancestry, early screening and early detection must be prioritized. This makes the difference between life and death in many situations. Once you’ve reached the required screening age, prioritize annual screenings to reduce your risk. 

Consider your Cosmetics

From relaxers to makeup products to your everyday moisturizer, black women have always had a history of having adverse reactions to the beauty products that have been marketed to us. Relaxers, for example, have been found to increase the risk of breast cancer by about 31%, and have also been linked to an increased risk of experiencing infertility and developing uterine fibroids. 

Makeup products including concealers and lipsticks marketed to black women have also been linked to hormone disruption and allergic reactions according to this article by Time Magazine. 

Statistics from the European Cancer Registries have shown that high incidences of breast cancer have become prevalent in younger women. For black women particularly, it is recommended that we reduce the use of heavily toxic beauty products, and opt for cleaner beauty recommendations.

Products such as relaxers, some daily moisturizers, and makeup products have been found to contain endocrine disruptors. These disruptors include hydroquinone, diethyl phthalate (DEP), and mercury, which have all been linked to an increased risk of developing cancer.  

Breast cancer is a serious condition and is all too common a reality in black women. Women of African Ancestry must do all we can and take the necessary steps to reduce this risk where possible. This will include developing a culture of early screening for breast cancer and being consistent with getting treatments where necessary. 

We all have a part to play in reducing the risk and improving the statistics of black women all over the globe. With these recommendations, you already have information to do your part in the breast cancer fight. 

The increasing risk and rise in statistics of black women dealing with breast cancer across the globe needs to be addressed. With these recommendations, you have information to do your part in the breast cancer fight.  However if you are wondering about how to get started then choose to Join as a Volunteer, Member or Sponsor of The Olive Branch of Hope. 

A cancer support community working to support black women, founded by black women & cancer survivors themselves. A community that stands for E.A.S.E Educate, Advocate, Support and Empower).

References

• “More Black Women die from Breast Cancer than any other cancer.” American Cancer Society, February 14, 2022, https://www.cancer.org/latest-news/facts-and-figures-african-american-black-people-2022-2024.html.
• “African American Women and Breast Cancer.” Breast Cancer Prevention Partners, https://www.bcpp.org/resource/african-american-women-and-breast-cancer/#:~:text=African%20American%20women%20have%20a,American%20women%20than%20White%20women.
• Lisa Newman, “Disparities in breast cancer and African ancestry: a global perspective” U.S. National Library of Medicine, 2014. https://pubmed.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/25639288/
• Daniel J, Bassey-Archibong BI, et al, “Kaiso is highly expressed in TNBC tissues of women of African ancestry compared to Caucasian women.” Cancer Causes Control, U.S. National Library of Medicine, 2017. https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pmc/articles/PMC5681979/
• “African American Women More Likely to Die of Triple-Negative Breast Cancer.” JAMA, August 17, 2021, https://jamanetwork.com/journals/jama/article-abstract/2783085
  
  
• “Beauty Products Marketed to Black Women May Contain More Hazardous Chemicals: Report.” Time Magazine, December 6, 2016, https://time.com/4591079/beauty-products-marketed-to-black-women-may-contain-more-hazardous-chemicals-report/

What is Self-Care?

“Treat yourself like someone you love. You are worth it”

Self-care is sometimes thought of as self-love. Self-care is not only about massages, manicures and vacations. Self-care starts with determining who you want to be.

Self-care is the holistic, practical approach to taking care of the physical, mental, spiritual, emotional and social aspects of your life for the purpose of improving your overall health and wellness.

From childhood we are taught that we need to work hard and be strong. That we need to work twice or three times as hard as others to succeed in life. Don’t give up. Persevere. These attributes are admirable. At the same time these attributes with our pursuit “to have it all” or trying to be everything to everyone can be a burden if it leads to us putting our own needs last such that it becomes a detriment to our health.

The concepts related to promoting self-care typically vary from person to person because they include doing what makes you feel good. When you are feeling drained and burnt out, taking the time for self-care is the first step to replenish your energy and become a better you.

Why Self-Care is Important

Self-Care is critical to achieving your goals. It is essential because it benefits not only you but also your closest friends and family members. It involves forming a healthy relationship with yourself, creating the best you, and giving off positive energy to those around you. Self-care should not be viewed as a selfish act… Instead, you should view it as a way of showing yourself compassion and kindness. With this comes many benefits that you will gain.

• Prevents burnout.
• Boosts energy levels and productivity
• Can improve your immune system to stave off illnesses
• Reduces stress levels and their harmful effects
• Boosts self-esteem and mood
• Fosters a healthy work-life balance
• Can help you to better cope with life’s challenges

The Five Pillars Of Self-Care

1. Nutrition & Exercise

Nutrition involves eating the right foods in the right amounts. Healthy eating is an important first step to improving your health and wellbeing. Good nutrition combined with regular physical activity can help combat or prevent obesity which often leads to a number of health issues including cancer. NHS studies have shown that a healthy diet is strongly linked to multiple physical and mental health benefits.
These include:

• Improved mood and memory
• Weight loss
• reducing the risk of cancer, diabetes, heart disease and stroke
• Stronger teeth and bones
• Better gut health

2. Faith & Hope

Despite being commonly overlooked, faith and hope go hand-in-hand. They are connected with spirituality and play a significant role in self-care particularly in helping to overcome life’s challenges.

If your thoughts are constantly negative it can lead to you believing that there isn’t anything better for you or you won’t make it through your difficult situation. It can cause you to lose faith and lead to a sense of hopelessness.

Faith keeps you believing and hope energizes you with the expectation that things will change – your situation is not permanent. For many Faith is the belief that God is in control and can turn things around for them.

“Hope will fight against depression. Hope will fight against anxiety. Hope will fight against fear. Hope wages war against feeling a great sense of heaviness. Hope pushes through worry and it expects a good outcome in the midst of our troubles.”

If you ever find yourself getting to a place where it seems like there is no reason to go on, ask someone close to you for help. It is okay. We all need help at at some point in our lives
Some battles are not meant to be fought alone. We are stronger together.

3. Traditional Natural Medicine

The WHO has identified Traditional Natural Medicine as “the sum total of the knowledge, skill, and practices based on the theories, beliefs, and experiences indigenous to different cultures, whether explicable or not, used in the maintenance of health as well as in the prevention, diagnosis, improvement or treatment of physical and mental illness”.

Traditional Natural Medicine is a massive umbrella that encompasses a wide variety of subcategories, such as the following:

• Naturopathy
• Acupuncture
• Homeopathy
• Herbal medicine
• Dietary supplements

There was a time when African Herbal (Plant-Based) Medicine that has been used for centuries was completely debunked by the Western Medical community. Africans were discouraged from using herbal remedies while various drugs were heavily promoted and encouraged as the primary/only means to treat various illnesses and diseases. Today across Canada and the United States for example, Herbal Medicine has gained enormous popularity and acceptance. Organic stores, plant-based products and foods and herbal supplements are readily available and widely used.

When it comes to self-care, traditional natural medicine plays an important role. Prior to use, educate yourself about the herbs you are considering for improved health and wellness. In consultation with your doctor or a specialist, traditional natural medicine can be effective in treating common ailments and help to relieve stress and anxiety for example.

4. Conventional Modern Medicine

At the other end of the spectrum to traditional natural medicine is conventional modern medicine or mainstream medicine. Conventional modern medicine is the system that treats diseases using surgery, drugs, and radiation, making it another practical method to care for yourself.

Healthcare Can Be Expensive

Proper healthcare is essential. However, doctor’s visits, medications and medical procedures can become too expensive for many in the Afrian-Caribbean community. In a lot of cases they cannot afford to pay for healthcare and get stuck with large medical bills. This can quickly become a hindrance to seeking healthcare (and self-care itself).

At the same time, some government agencies provide health insurance to offset the cost of the treatment of common diseases. It is important to speak with your healthcare provider and ask them about the proper health insurance policy that suits your needs.

Cultural Views – Many don’t visit a doctor regularly

Sadly, in some Afro-Caribbean cultures, mainly, the male population, there is a negative attitude towards healthcare. The thought is that instead of seeking care from a doctor, you should just wait and “watch it,” or opt to treat it yourself using natural remedies. Natural remedies can help with some sickness. However, there are situations when it is absolutely necessary to see a medical doctor.

It is important that we encourage our friends and family members to get regular checkups and visit their doctor especially when they are very ill.

5. Mindset

Embracing a positive mindset to life, as well as one towards the practice of self-care, is crucial. Having a positive mindset and fostering optimism is an exceptional skill to learn. The many benefits of positive thinking contribute to active self-care. They include the following:

• Lower levels of stress and anxiety
• Better coping mechanisms for highly stressful situations
• Improved physical and mental wellbeing
• Lowers the risk for depression

How To Promote Positive Self-Care In Your Life

There are many ways to promote self-care in your life. Make the effort to create a compelling and personalized self-care plan. Find a friend or family to join you in creating a plan and holding each other accountable. Another option is to seek the help of a professional Counsellor or Life Coach. At the start, it may be trial and error, but soon, you will find the best way to manage your needs, which fits your schedule. Again don’t hesitate to ask for help.

• Identify the hobbies or tasks that make you feel refreshed and write it down.
• Make sure that you choose self-care activities that target some of the following aspects of your life: physical, social, emotional, mental and spiritual.
• Make self-care a habit while continuously adapting your routine and activities to meet your goals
• And have fun!

References

• “Apple Presents the Best of 2018.” Apple Newsroom, 27 Mar. 2020, www.apple.com/newsroom/2018/12/apple-presents-the-best-of-2018/.
• Frierson, Georita M, et al. “Effect of Race and Socioeconomic Status on Cardiovascular Risk Factor Burden: the Cooper Center Longitudinal Study.” Ethnicity & Disease, U.S. National Library of Medicine, 2013, https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pmc/articles/PMC4266688/ .
• “Health Benefits of Eating Well.” Food and Nutrition | NHS Inform, www.nhsinform.scot/healthy-living/food-and-nutrition/eating-well/health-benefits-of-eating-well.
• “How to Stop Negative Self-Talk.” Mayo Clinic, Mayo Foundation for Medical Education and Research, 21 Jan. 2020, www.mayoclinic.org/healthy-lifestyle/stress-management/in-depth/positive-thinking/art-20043950.
• Lackland, Daniel T. “Racial Differences in Hypertension: Implications for High Blood Pressure Management.” The American Journal of the Medical Sciences, U.S. National Library of Medicine, Aug. 2014, https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pmc/articles/PMC4108512/ .
• “Metabolic Syndrome.” Metabolic Syndrome | Johns Hopkins Medicine, www.hopkinsmedicine.org/health/conditions-and-diseases/metabolic-syndrome.
• “NCI Dictionary of Cancer Terms.” National Cancer Institute, www.cancer.gov/publications/dictionaries/cancer-terms/def/complementary-medicine.
• “NCI Dictionary of Cancer Terms.” National Cancer Institute, www.cancer.gov/publications/dictionaries/cancer-terms/def/conventional-medicine.
• Silva, Christianna. “The Millennial Obsession With Self-Care.” NPR, NPR, 4 June 2017, www.npr.org/2017/06/04/531051473/the-millennial-obsession-with-self-care.
• “Types of Complementary and Alternative Medicine.” Types of Complementary and Alternative Medicine | Johns Hopkins Medicine, www.hopkinsmedicine.org/health/wellness-and-prevention/types-of-complementary-and-alternative-medicine. 
• “Types of Complementary and Alternative Medicine.” Types of Complementary and Alternative Medicine | Johns Hopkins Medicine, www.hopkinsmedicine.org/health/wellness-and-prevention/types-of-complementary-and-alternative-medicine. 
• “What Advantages Do I Get When I Use Alternative Medicine.” Boise’s Best Chiropractic, www.boiseapexchiro.com/what-advantages-do-i-get-when-i-use-alternative-medicine/