Helpful Information on Breast Cancer Awareness

Knowledge is power in all things, and so it is with breast cancer. While it is true that the chance of getting breast cancer is 1 in 8 women, it is also true that when detected early, and the cancer is confined to the breast, the 5 year survival rate is 98%. The two best defenses against breast cancer are prevention and early detection.

While there are uncontrollable risk factors that may impact your likelihood of getting breast cancer, such as family history of breast cancer, having an inherited mutation in breast cancer genes, or having high breast density on a mammogram, there are other risk factors which you can do something about. These fall in the area of prevention.

Prevention First, build a moderate level of physical activity into your lifestyle. Physical activity may help lower the risk of breast cancer by lowering estrogen levels and boosting the immune system. Further, exercise will help to fight excess weight. Weight gain as an adult may be a risk factor for breast cancer.

Second, assure nutrition is a key element of your daily living to lower your risk of getting breast cancer. Make sure your meals have the proper servings of fruits, vegetables, and whole-grains as well as sufficient calcium enriched foods and/or a supplement. Avoid high fat foods and concentrated sweets.

Third, the more alcohol you consume, the higher your risk of developing breast cancer. If you drink alcohol, less than one drink a day poses less risk.

Finally, do not smoke. Smoking has been linked to higher risks of many types of cancers.

Detection If you develop breast cancer, early detection is critical. The best way to detect breast cancer at its earliest stages is with routine breast examinations. You should check your breasts routinely by performing breast self exams each month, by clinical breast exams performed routinely every 1-3 years depending on your age and medical history, and by mammograms which are X-ray pictures of the breast. A mammogram should be performed every year after the age of 40, or younger if there is a family history of breast cancer or other concerns.

With more awareness of the risk factors associated with breast cancer, early intervention and lifestyle adjustments where applicable, and better screening for early detection, more and more women can live full lives, cancer free.