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Breast Cancer Precautions: How To Reduce Your Risk?
Breast cancer is one of the most common cancers in women. Most of the time, it gets detected in the last stages, when the treatment becomes difficult. In such cases, prevention is better than cure, and there are many practices you can develop which might prevent you from cancer, especially breast cancer.
This blog covers detailed information on how you can decrease your chances of breast cancer.
Overview
In the modern day, our lifestyles have changed a lot. We are more intent on having junk food, alcohol, etc. Women are conceiving at an older age, after 35, and rely on post-menopausal hormones. These changes in lifestyle for both men and women can affect their fertility and can be an indirect yet effective reason for cancer.
Moreover, there are some ways we can take some measures to prevent breast cancer. Some of these measures include:
Keep Weight In Check
It is always good to have an optimum weight that fits your age. Studies say that women who are obese or have gained a lot of weight after menopause are more likely to have breast cancer. Overweight women will have more insulin levels in their blood, which is again directly linked to cancer. Some researchers are still confused about how weight and breast cancer are linked. However, being overweight can cause many other issues apart from breast cancer, so maintain your weight.
Be Physically Active
Make a daily habit of doing freehand exercises to stay fit. Exercise and meditation are a cure for many ailments which can even occur in future.
Limit Alcohol
Drinking alcohol broadens the risk of breast cancer. Even moderate alcohol consumption can pose a 30-50% risk of breast cancer among women. Women who are highly addicted to alcohol and drugs have a higher chance of developing breast cancer. In various independent studies, it was stated that alcohol interferes with the genetic structure of the cells, which can lead to mutation. Women who have a history of alcoholism are at risk of the same.
Avoid Post-Menopausal Hormones
Post-menopausal hormone therapies are sometimes given to women when they have reached menopause. Doctors advise such therapies for women with issues after menopause, like hot flashes, bleeding, vaginal dryness etc. However, many researchers claim that overuse of post-menopausal hormone therapy can put a woman at risk of breast cancer. It is still an ongoing debate whether these hormones can cause long-term effects.
Breast-Feed
It is always good to breastfeed your child as long as the mother is not weak or has some disease. In ancient scriptures, breastfeeding has always been recommended. However, some mothers these days are not keen on breastfeeding their child, which might pose a risk for breast cancer in future. These women can be at a higher risk of premenopausal breast cancer, ovarian cancer, etc. These women might also develop a condition called retained gestational weight gain and even type 2 diabetes. Therefore, you must breastfeed your child every time till the age of 2.
Find Out Your Family History
Cancers are mostly hereditary, and you can develop cancer if your family genes have it. Some genes like BRCA 1 and BRCA 2 can transfer between families and mutate to develop cancer. If someone has a first-degree female relative, say, mother, sister or even grandmother, who has been affected with breast cancer, then you must get yourself diagnosed.
Reports say that if consecutively two first-degree relatives have cancer, then your chance of getting cancer develops at least 5 times.
You must always enquire about your relatives and ask whether any of them have cancer. There is no shame in asking, as it could save the lives of many people. If you discover that your relatives had any type of cancer, especially breast cancer, you must go for regular screening. An experienced oncologist will help you with the rest.
Can A Healthy Diet Prevent Breast Cancer?
A healthy diet can prevent any disease in general and breast cancer in particular.
Limit red meat, salt and excessive animal protein.
Include plant-based, unprocessed foods and non-starchy foods in your diet.
However, it is difficult to just say that doing all the preventive measures will completely prevent breast cancer. Sometimes, certain diseases happen without having a cause. Therefore, one must be prepared. Start having a balanced life and a healthy diet. As a woman, be aware of the trends of breast cancer and consult your doctor regularly.
FAQs
What are key preventive measures for breast cancer? Regular screenings, a healthy diet, physical activity, and avoiding smoking or alcohol can help.
Does family history increase the risk of breast cancer? Yes, a family history of breast cancer may increase your risk, and genetic testing might be advised.
What lifestyle changes can reduce breast cancer risk? Maintaining a healthy weight, breastfeeding, and limiting hormone replacement therapy are beneficial.
How often should one perform breast self-exams? Monthly self-exams are recommended, especially for women above 20 years old.
What are the early warning signs of breast cancer? Look for lumps, nipple discharge, changes in breast shape, or skin texture.
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