EIGHT TOP TIPS ON PREVENTING BREAST CANCER

1. WATCH THAT WEIGHT -

  Being overweight has many negative effects on health, and the risk of breast cancer is one of them. The effect of weight is dramatic. “For a woman who weighs over 175 pounds, the chances of breast cancer are about 25 percent higher than someone who weighs 132 pounds,”. Strive to keep your body mass index (BMI) under 25. Refer to our blog on BMI calculation to ascertain your BMI Body weight. Two more reasons to keep your weight in check: Breast cancer is often detected at a later stage in obese women, and obese women are more likely to die from breast cancer.


2. INVOLVE PHYSICAL EXERCISE -

Research has shown that moderate daily exercise reduces breast cancer risk by 15 to 25 percent,even when begun later in life.All it takes is moderate exercise like a 30-minute walk five days a week to get this protective effect.







3. GO FOR LITTLE OR NO ALCOHOL -

Alcohol use is associated with an increased risk of breast cancer. Women should limit intake to no more than one drink per day, regardless of the type of alcohol. The American Cancer Society says the more a woman drinks, the higher the risk of breast cancer. Just one drink a day increases the risk by a small amount. Women who drink two to five drinks a day are one and a half times more likely to develop breast cancer.



4. EAT HEALTHY FOOD -

A healthy diet can lower your risk of breast cancer, and an unhealthy diet can increase your risk. You are advised to eat a lots of fruits and vegetables, whole grains, and lean proteins. Choose vegetable oils over animal fats, and avoid sugared drinks, refined carbohydrates, and fatty foods.






5. STAY AWAY FROM HORMONE REPLACEMENT THERAPY.

Recent research has shown that hormone replacement therapy may increase the risk of breast cancer. Menopausal hormone therapy increases risk for breast cancer. If you must take hormones to manage menopausal symptoms, avoid those that contain progesterone and limit their use to less than three years.  Hormonal creams and gels are no safer than prescription hormones and should also be avoided.



6. DON'T SMOKE -

Research suggests that long-term smoking is associated with increased risk of breast cancer in some women. The studies suggested that women who start smoking at a young age are 20 percent more likely to develop breast cancer, and smoking for many years increases risk by up to 30 percent.





7. BREAST FEED YOUR BABY AS LONG AS POSSIBLE -

Several studies have shown that women who breastfeed have a lower risk of breast cancer. Women who tend to breastfeed for shorter periods or skip it completely is a major contributor to the high rates of breast cancer. When a woman is breastfeeding, her body produces higher levels of a hormone called prolactin, which lowers the levels of estrogen. The longer a woman breastfeeds over a lifetime, the more protected she is against breast cancer.



8. GET REGULAR BREAST CANCER SCREENING.

Follow your doctor or health care provider’s recommendations to decide what type of screening you need and how often you need it.

If you are at high risk for breast cancer, such as having a particular gene like a BRCA gene, or have a strong family history or have had high-risk benign breast disease in the past, talk with your doctor about it and decide on what option to follow.



Like any cancer, breast cancer is a complex disease, and there is no sure/distinct way to protect yourself. Breast cancer is believed to be related to environmental risks, and these tips can help you ward off breast cancer.