Did you know only about 10 percent of breast cancers are hereditary? While you can’t control certain factors that may impact your risk forbreast cancer, such as being a woman, getting older, race or ethnicity,you can be proactive abouthow you take care of yourself.
Lifestyle factorsplay an important role in many cancers including breast cancer.The American Institute ForCancer Researchstatesthat about 1/3 of the most common cancersin the U.S.could be preventedthrough weight management, a healthy diet and daily exercise. Those three steps can make a big difference!
Here are 10 steps to take now that I’ve compiled from three of my favoriteresources: American Cancer Society, Susan G Komenand American Institute for Cancer Research
1. Maintain ahealthy body weight throughout your life.
2. Be physically active every day for at least 30 minutes.
3. Eat healthier foods, mostly plants. Limit red meat andavoid processed meats.Reduce consumption of sugar, sodium, saturated fatsand processed foods.
4. If you choose to drink, limit to one 5 oz glassof wine a day (or one small cocktail -1.5 oz alcohol).
5. Don’t smoke and quit if you do.
6.Breastfeed, if you can.
7. Limit postmenopausal hormone use.
8. Know your family history for all cancers, not just breast cancer.Discuss with your doctor whether or not you have dense breasts which can be 6 times more likely to develop cancer and make it harder for mammograms to detectbreastcancer.Ask your doctor which screening tests are right for you if you are at a higher risk.
9. Have a mammogram every year starting at age 40 if you are at average risk.
10.Have a clinical breast exam at least every 3 years starting at age 20, and every year starting at age 40. Manually examine your breasts each month. (That’s how I found a lumpin my breast in 2009.)
Infographic:: www.AICR,org
Breast cancer remains the second leading cause of cancer death among women in the USA after lung cancer.One in 8 women are diagnosed. In2016 an estimated246,660 new cases of invasive breast cancer will be diagnosed and 40,450 women will die from the disease. While medical science continues to work on better waysto detect and treat all breast cancers,the best protection you can take is to be proactive about your overall health and diligent about your breast health.
Every woman deserves to be one in a million, not one in eight. #FearlessFabulousYou
