Breast cancer is a disease in which abnormal cancer cells develop in the breast. It is the second most common cancer in women and is the second leading cause of cancer deaths in women. Age and genetics may increase your risk for breast cancer, but you can make lifestyle changes to help prevent breast cancer.
Avoid Alcohol
Alcohol intake has been found to increase risk for breast cancer. Limiting alcohol to one drink per day or eliminating it completely is important. Opting for other healthy beverages, such as water or noncaffeinated drinks, is advisable and healthier.
Maintain a Healthy Weight and Diet
Estrogen in fatty tissue may increase your risk for breast cancer. Avoiding obesity and being overweight is recommended, especially after menopause. A low-fat diet has been linked to less invasive breast cancer incidence, according to the Mayo Clinic. Maintaining a healthy weight and a diet low in fat is important in the reduction of other illnesses, such as heart disease.
Exercise
Being physically active can help prevent breast cancer. The Mayo Clinic recommends 30 minutes of exercise most days of the week. Some ideas for exercise are to take a walk, biking, using a treadmill, heavy gardening or taking a yoga class. Exercise is important for many other reasons, like reducing risks for diabetes and hypertension.
Decrease Exposure to Estrogen
Decreasing the amount of estrogen in the breast tissue can assist in preventing breast cancer. It is important for women to discuss with their doctor the risks and benefits of hormone replacement therapy. There is concern about long-term hormone replacement therapy and breast cancer incidence. Other options, such as dietary changes or taking short-term therapy, should be considered by women and their doctors. Breast-feeding decreases the amount of estrogen in the body and therefore may aid in helping to prevent breast cancer.
Other Possible Contributors
The Mayo Clinic reports that experts analyzing all the risk data estimate that birth control pill use causes, at most, 4.7 out of 10,000 cases of premenopausal breast cancer. You should discuss with your doctor the slight increase of risk for breast cancer prior to starting birth control. Women with elevated pesticides in their breast tissue have been found to have an increase in breast cancer incidence, according to the Mayo Clinic. Avoiding exposure to pesticides can assist in breast cancer prevention. Unnecessary antibiotic use may also contribute to breast cancer development. The Mayo Clinic reports that scientists have found that the longer antibiotics were used, the greater the risk of breast cancer
