At this point in time, there is no conclusive link between smoking and breast cancer. However, due to the number of health risks associated with smoking, quitting can significantly increase survival rates.

Habitual and frequent drinking has been shown to slightly increase the risk of breast cancer. The greater the levels consumed, the higher the risk.

Exercise pumps up the immune system and lowers estrogen levels. With as little as four hours of exercise per week, a woman can begin to lower her risk of breast cancer.

Breast cancer can not be prevented. However, a nutritious diet that is low in fats and includes plenty of fruits and vegetables can help reduce the risk of developing breast cancer. A high-fat diet increases the risk because fat triggers estrogen production that can fuel tumor growth.

If you have a mother, grandmother, sister, or daughter who has been diagnosed with breast cancer, this puts you in a higher risk group. Make sure you talk to you doctor about your risk, and have a baseline mammogram five to ten years prior to the youngest breast cancer case in your family. You should also get annual clinical breast exams starting at age 20.

Women who began their menstrual cycles before age 12 or began menopause after age 55, have not had any children, or have had their first child at age 30 and older, are at a higher risk.

Although some studies have shown that factors such as traumatic events and losses can alter immune system functions, these studies have not provided any evidence of a direct cause-and-effect relationship between stress and breast cancer.

In general, mammograms are not painful yet they might cause slight discomfort for a very brief period of time. Sensitive patients are advised to schedule their mammograms a week after their menstrual cycle, when the breasts are least likely to be tender.

Your best protection against breast cancer is early detection. Survival rates are directly connected to early detection and reach up to 95% if breast cancer is diagnosed in its early stages. If you are woman at normal risk, follow the Early Detection Plan below, which summarizes the national recommendations for breast cancer screening in Jordan: