This Is How To Effectively Decrease Your Risk Of Breast Cancer!

Last Updated on January 7, 2021

We are long past October, the breast cancer awareness month – when the whole world joins forces in the fight against breast cancer and shades of pink take over social media posts, but it never hurts to remind ourselves of the importance of breast cancer prevention.

But what is it exactly? It’s simply a form of cancer that develops from the breast tissue when its cells begin to divide and grow out of control in an abnormal way. The most common type of breast cancer starts in the tubes (known as ducts) that carry milk to the nipple while breastfeeding. All the breast cells activity registered in the female body makes them incredibly more likely to develop this disease in comparison to men – whose breast cells are mostly inactive.

Fortunately, thanks to all the efforts made by the medical community, government programs and the society in general to raise awareness for the need to prevent breast cancer and act swiftly on its detection, it is not as deadly as it was a few decades ago. Even so, it is still one of the most common types of cancer (only behind skin cancer).

To an extent, breast cancer can be prevented. Researchers have identified hormonal, environmental and lifestyle factors that may put you at a greater risk of developing breast cancer. Here are a few behaviors you should start adopting that can potentially have a huge impact on decreasing your risk of breast cancer.

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#1 – Don’t smoke

We are all familiarized with the dangers of smoking and its link to several types of cancer such as lung and throat cancer. But what not everybody knows it that breast cancer is one of the 15 types of cancer that smoking is associated with. With that being said, there are at least 15 good reasons to quit smoking… or to never start doing it in the first place.

#2 – Breastfeeding

Besides all the benefits for your child’s health and the bonding experience it provides, breastfeeding can also reduce your risk of breast cancer.

Although it is very hard to describe the reason behind this fact, the truth is that a succession of studies published between 2002 and 2014 found a correlation between breastfeeding and the decrease in the risk of breast cancer.

#3 – Stop taking birth control pills

Even though there is no consensus in the medical community regarding a link between birth control pills and breast cancer, some doctors believe that it can slightly increase the chance of breast cancer, especially for women who keep taking them after turning 35.

#4 – Watch your diet

As with so many other diseases, one of the best ways to prevent breast cancer is through a healthy and balanced diet. The food you decide to eat has a huge impact on your health, so make sure to include fruits and vegetables on your meals.

Both obese women and women who keep putting on weight after menopause are at great risk of having breast cancer. That’s because having more fat tissue raises estrogen and insulin levels, therefore increasing the chances of developing the said disease.

And don’t abuse alcohol, as it can increase up to 20% your risk of breast cancer according to research that compared the health of women who had 3 alcoholic drinks a day with women who never ingested alcohol.

#5 – Exercise regularly

Along with a healthy diet, regular exercising is the best thing you can do to keep your body (and mind) in shape. And being in shape is synonymous with being healthy. A 30 minutes workout is enough to significantly lower the risk of developing breast cancer.

#6 – Check yourself regularly

If you do a regular checkup on yourself every two or three months, chances are that you will be able to detect some anomaly at an early stage of the disease. And we can’t stress enough how important this early detection is.

There are several educational videos that teach you how to perform this checkup correctly. If you think that something’s not right, you should book an appointment with your doctor and tell him about your concerns.

Here are some breast cancer symptoms you should look for: a lump, hard knot or thickening in the breast; a lump under your arm; a change in the breast’s size or shape; nipple pain, tenderness or discharge (including bleeding); itchiness, scales, soreness or rash on the nipple; nipple turning inward; change in color and texture; warm or swollen breast.

#7 – Know your family medical history

Talk with a close relative (like your mother or grandmother) to find out about the medical history of your family. If there were a few cases of breast, prostate, or ovarian cancer among older generations, you may be at high risk of developing it to at some stage of your life. That means you need to be extra careful and schedule regular checkups.

#8 – Get screened

Sometimes the only way to save a life is by detecting cancer at an early stage through regular screening. That’s because it is the only way to detect some forms of cancer at an early stage when it is the most treatable.

You can discuss how often you should get screened with your doctor, but some experts recommend the following: from ages 25-39, you should be check for risk assessment every three years; when you turn 40, you should be getting screened annually. This can change considerably if your doctor determines that you are a high-risk patient.

Also, if you live in the United States of America, make sure your health insurance plan covers this type of health issue. Especially from the age of 40, when you should begin getting screened annually. It’s bad enough having to undergo cancer treatment, let alone be forced into tremendous debt in order to do so.
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As you know, the causes of cancer are unpredictable and sometimes it can’t be prevented no matter what you do and how hard you try to live in the healthiest possible way – family history and genetics play a huge role in the development of some forms of cancer.

In those cases, early detection is the difference between a less evasive and effective treatment and a painful treatment process that perhaps the only thing it can do is to extend your life for a few more months. Below you can find a few tips that can be crucial for early detection of breast cancer.