Breast cancer is one of the leading cause of death from cancer in women. Majority of breast cancer cases are found in women compared to their male counterparts. About a million cases are reported yearly and about thousands die as a result. Here are few tips on how to protect yourself.
Key Points
Table of contents
How dense are you
Breast tissue denseness can only be seen on a mammogram and it is a risk factor for breast cancer. Breast density isn’t based on how your breasts feel nor related to breast size or firmness. But it’s when you have more tissue than fat in your breasts. If there is more tissue than fat in your breast it produces difficulty in detecting breast cancer on a mammogram.
The level of risk depends on the depth of the breast tissues. Women with dense breast are more likely to develop breast cancer than women with very low breast density. Increased breast density is often an inherited trait and common in young women but it may also occur in women who have not had children. If your mammogram report says that you have dense breast tissue, talk with your doctor.
Exercise regularly
Reduced the risk of breast cancer by keeping your body busy. Some studies show that physical activity can reduce the risk of breast cancer. If you’ve been diagnosed, as well as reducing the risk of developing breast cancer if you’ve never been diagnosed. Studies have shown that the female hormone estrogen can help breast cancer grow. After menopause, most of your estrogen comes from adipose tissue.
The use of more adipose tissue can increase your chance of breast cancer by increasing estrogen levels. Even women who are overweight tend to have higher levels of insulin, another hormone. Higher levels of insulin were also associated with some types of cancer, including breast cancer. Physical activity is essential for people to maintain a balance between the number of calories consumed and the number of calories used.
To protect yourself from breast cancer and all cancers it is recommended to exercise for 150 minutes weekly, which breaks down to 30 minutes 5 days a week. Half-hour exercise at least three times a week is good for your health.
Exercise can withdraw your breast cancer risk, as well as help you maintain a healthy weight, facilitate side effects, increase your energy level improves physical functioning, quality of life, and cancer-related fatigue. Exercise can lower your risk of breast cancer coming back and can help breast cancer survivors live longer and lead a more active life.
Breast feed
Women who breastfeed systematically for the first six months are at risk of dying less than their counterparts who do not, a recent study found. Some studies have shown a link between breastfeeding and a lower risk of developing breast cancer, although there is still no clear prove on this yet.
Researchers believe that breastfeeding makes breast cells resistant to mutations that can cause cancer. Breastfeeding can help eliminate cells with potential DNA damage and help to reduce the chances of getting breast cancer. It is also believed that breastfeeding causes the breast to protect itself by going through some physical changes which resist chemicals that cause cancer.
The claims are based on the theory that breast cancer is related to the estrogen hormone. Many researchers believe that the more we come in contact with this hormone, the greater the risk of catching the disease. Women who are breastfeeding have fewer menstrual cycles during their lifetime and as a result, have less exposure to estrogen that has been shown to bring about certain types of breast cancer. Exclusively breastfeeding your child for six months or more is a great benefit not only to the child but a mother who wants to stay away from breast cancer.
Work on your weight
Weight gain is a risk factor for breast cancer after menopause. Study found that women who gained 20–30 pounds during adulthood were 40% more likely to develop breast cancer after menopause than women who gained no more than 5 pounds. Obesity is defined as having a body mass index greater than 25, obese women are at risk of being diagnosed with breast cancer compared to women who maintain a healthy weight, especially after menopause.
Being obese when diagnosed with breast cancer can also increase the risk of your cancer returning after treatment and reducing your chances of surviving the disease. The effect of weight on the risk of breast cancer is probably due to differences in the level of female sex hormones, estrogen, and progesterone. For overweight or obese women after menopause, the increased risk of breast cancer is likely to be a higher level of estrogen in the body.
Although these natural hormones are important in the body, they can encourage some breast cancer to develop. After menopause, the ovaries stop the production of estrogen, which means that their monthly periods stop. The body continues to produce estrogen at a much lower level than before, which is related to the amount of body fat that you own. The more adipose tissue you have, the higher your estrogen levels and that in turn increases your risk of breast cancer.
Weight gain in adulthood increases the risk of developing breast cancer after menopause. Although Obesity before menopause can easily reduce your risk of developing breast cancer, to the point where you reach menopause. It is important to note that the risk of breast cancer increases with age and the higher the weight you gain in your adult life, the greater the risk of breast cancer after menopause.
Hormone therapy
Menopause is the time of a woman’s life when the ovaries cease to work, and she ceases to have menstruation forever. The ovaries stop the release of eggs and the production of female hormones, estrogens, and progesterone. In the months or years before the natural menopause, menstrual periods can become less frequent and irregular, and the hormonal level may decrease.
Most of the symptoms of menopause are related to lower levels of estrogen. Some symptoms – hot flashes and night sweats, but – tend to disappear at some point, whether or not they are treated. Other problems that begin after menopause, such as dryness and thinning of the vaginal tissue and thinning of the bone, tend to worsen over time.
The use of Hormonal therapy for the treatment of menopause symptoms improves the symptoms of menopause but increases the risk of cancer of the uterus and the breast. Hormone therapy is linked to increased breast density (as seen on a mammogram). Increased breast density can make it harder to find breast cancer on a mammogram. It would be best to consider other non-hormonal options if you have a personal or family history of breast cancer
Eat balance
The most important thing in breast cancer prevention is to have a balanced diet. Foods that are recommended for breast cancer prevention include legumes, soy products, fruits, vegetables, green tea, vitamin D, and low-fat high fiber foods. It is already well known that beans are good for breast cancer prevention. Soy contains many phytonutrients such as phytochemicals and phytoestrogens, which contribute to breast cancer suppression by lowering the expression of female hormone receptors.
Fruit and vegetable intake can inhibit breast cancer through antioxidants and fiber. These foods are known to inhibit the development of breast cancer by lowering estrogen levels. Vegetables such as carrots, amber, sweet potatoes, and other vegetables such as broccoli, spinach, is effective in suppressing cancer development.
A study found that those who consume five or more vegetables or fruits a day had a significantly lower risk of breast cancer than those who consume less than two fruits and vegetables. The green tea components polyphenols and catechins have antioxidant activity, which slows blood vessel growth in breast cancer tissues. It is also known to inhibit breast cancer growth by lowering estrogen levels and is a good food for breast cancer prevention. Eat balanced not junk
Watch your Alcohol consumption
Experts say that it is unclear why alcohol increases breast cancer risk. One theory is that alcohol increases the amount of estrogen in the blood. Estrogen is one of the risk factors for the incidence of breast cancer. There is also the theory that alcohol can damage DNA. Alcohol increases the risk of developing breast cancer. Although there are several results of research on case subjects for those who drink alcohol compared with those who do not drink.
There is a result that people who drink alcohol increase the risk, and it is said that the risk of developing breast cancer surely increases as a number of drink increases. Although numerous studies have found that red wine is indeed good for health and reduces the chances of heart disease and degenerative diseases such as Alzheimer’s disease. But for women with higher risk of breast cancer, the risk may be greater than the benefits.
Researchers estimate that 3.6% of all cancer patients in the world are caused by drinking, 1.7% of whom are women and 5.2% are men.
Alcohol intake increases the risk of several cancers: colorectal cancer, breast cancer, oral cancer, throat cancer, liver cancer and esophageal cancer. However, as a number of alcohol increases, the risk of developing increases, so it is better not to increase the amount of alcohol consumption. Above all the best is to avoid alcohol completely.
Screening regularly
Breast cancer screening plays a key role in addressing the various aspects of the disease. There are tests to determine genetic risk, to detect cancer early, what characterize the disease and its potential for metastasis. This test will guide the direction of the treatment plan and monitor its effectiveness. Then, the test checks for recurrence of long-term cancer survivors.
The various tests and screening tests used in the discovery and treatment of cancer such as magnetic resonance imaging, tomosynthesis, and ultrasound to support the results of mammography. Regular screening mammograms are generally prescribed as additional detection measures for women between 50 and 74 years of age. A bi-annual mammogram can indicate changes over time. Women with a higher than average breast cancer risk can be recommended to undergo a mammogram before they are 40 years old and then be tested annually thereafter.
However, mammography is the best path for early detection of the disease. According to the NCI and the American Society of Obstetrics and Gynecology (ACOG), there is clear evidence that age 40-74 years old mammography can reduce cancer mortality. At the same time, the US Preventive Services Task Force recommends chest X-ray for women aged 50-74 years every two years. It is important to know what your breast looks and feels like. When you know what is normal, you can feel the change better. Tell your doctor immediately if there is a change in your breast.
