Breast cancer is the most commonly found cancer in women, It even occurs in men though the cases account for less than 1%. Genetic mutations and DNA damage may cause this disease. Lifestyle also plays an important role which includes physical activity, eating habits etc.
Awareness is vital for reducing stigma of breast cancer and for the prevention. Here are some important points that helps us to reduce the risk of same:
1.Check on your weight: Maintaining weight in healthy range is important goal for everyone. Obesity can increase the risk of many other types of cancers including breast cancer, this can happen especially after the menopause.
2. Be physically active: Exercising is the key to good health and many studies have proven that women who are physically active for at least 30 mins a day have a lower risk of breast cancer. Regular exercising also ensures that weight is always in the optimum range.
3. Eat right: Healthy diet is quintessential to stay fit. Try to include more and more fresh fruits and vegetables in your diet and keep the levels of alcohol in a very moderate range. Though moderate drinking can be considered good for heart in older adults, even low intake of alcohol can increase your chances of breast cancer.
4. Don’t smoke: Everyone is aware of how badly smoking affects our health. Apart from lowering the quality of life and increasing the risk of heart disease, stroke and around 15 types of cancer, which includes breast cancer – it also causes bad teeth, accelerates ageing and smelly breath.
5. If possible, breastfeed – Breastfeeding has so many health benefits for the child, it also lowers the risk of breast cancer.
6. Birth-pills to be avoided, particularly after 35: They come with both benefits and risks, the risk is lesser in younger women. There is a slightly increased chance of developing breast cancer in women who take birth control pills. If a woman smoke along with consuming birth control pills, the risk of heart attack and stroke also increases. There are some benefits in the long term use like – decreased risk of ovarian cancer, uterine cancer and colon cancer. Avoiding birth control pills can be an option to lower risk if you are concerned about breast cancer.
7. Avoid Post- menopausal hormones: For prevention of chronic diseases like heart disease and osteoporosis, post menopausal hormones should be avoided. It has been shown in studies that they have mixed benefits on health, it increases the risk of few and decrease risk of some. Risk of breast cancer can be increased by both oestrogen only and oestrogen plus progestin hormones. It should be taken by women for short duration only. You should discuss with you doctor about risk and benefits of these hormones.
8. Family History: Women who have a family history of breast cancer should be more cautious to take special preventive measure to protect themselves. You may be at higher risk if your mother or sister have ovarian, breast cancer or both. This concern may be discussed with your genetic counsellor or doctor.
9. Go for screening: Screening can help detect cancer at an early stage when it is treatable. Mostly regular mammograms can begin at 40 years of age, specific recommendation may vary by risk and age.
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