Breast cancer: how to lower the risk

As we enter the last days of October and Breast Cancer Awareness Month, and look beyond the pageantry of seeing our favorite sports heroes adorned in pink uniforms for the month, there is a very real issue at hand that millions of Americans are coping with daily.

A staggering one in eight women develops breast cancer during the course of their lifetime days, according to breastcancer.org. That is just too many. So, each year in the month of October there is a movement to bring awareness to the struggle. But, a recent stat that has come out about breast cancer should have the senior community paying particular attention. Half of all newly diagnosed cases of breast cancer occur in women over the age of 60.

That number is expected to grow, and nearly 20% of those cases are in women over the age of 70! So, what can seniors and all women alike do to protect them and increase the odds of finding cancer early? What can anyone do to reduce their risk for breast cancer (and other diseases)? A lot!

This article will help identify some known and suspected breast cancer risk factors and give tips on how everyone can make simple changes to reduce their risk.

Maintain a healthy diet

Fruits and vegetables are high in carotenoids and according to researchers at Harvard, high carotenoid levels can reduce cancer risk by as much as 19%.

Exercise

Most people put on weight after the age of 18, but the more you put on, the higher your risk of breast cancer. According to the American cancer society, women who gain 20 to 30 lbs. after high school carry a 40% higher risk of developing breast cancer. Regular exercise helps in maintaining a healthy weight.

Breast feed

During the child bearing years, breastfeeding might play a role in breast cancer prevention. The longer you breast feed, the greater the protective effect.

Limit postmenopausal hormone therapy

Combination hormone therapy may increase the risk of breast cancer. Patients should talk with their doctor about the risks and benefits of hormone therapy. Menopause symptoms might be managed with non-hormonal therapies and medications. The benefits of short-term hormone therapy may outweigh the risks using the lowest dose that works and being monitored by a doctor while taking hormones.

Stop smoking

Smoking is a major risk factor among all forms of cancer, but it is particularly high-risk behavior for breast cancer. It’s not just smoking. Being exposed to secondhand smoke is dangerous as well!

Limit alcohol

The more alcohol a person drinks, the greater their risk of developing breast cancer. The general recommendation, based on research on the effect of alcohol on breast cancer risk, is to limit to no more than one drink a day, as even small amounts increase risk.

Environment basics

Exposure to toxic chemicals can play an important role in the development of breast cancer. It is known that women are exposed to many harmful chemicals including chemical mixtures in their daily lives through consumer products, drinking water, industrial chemicals, and pesticides.

Research shows more than half of cancers are preventable and that environmental chemicals are important contributing factors. Because many chemical hazards are ones that can be avoided, they represent important opportunities for prevention. Research is guided by the principle that when significant risks to public health are suspected, efforts should be made to reduce those risks, and that evidence of harm, rather than definitive proof, should prompt action.

Get regular exams

The U.S. Preventative Services Task Force suggests that women 50 and over should have a screening for breast cancer every two years until age 74. ALL women should be getting screened, but the older one gets it is more and more important! Now is the time to participate in regular breast cancer screenings.

Despite medical advances, breast cancer remains the most common cancer in the United States. Although cures are important, investing in prevention will have a much larger impact on society by reducing the incidence of the disease and sparing people from the medical, psychological, and financial burdens of a cancer diagnosis.