Breast
7 ways to keep your breast health
When it comes to young women and breast cancer, there
is good news and bad news. The good: their chances of having the disease are
much lower than an old woman. The bad: If cancer strikes, it can be more
aggressive, said Debra Mangino, MD, of Memorial Sloan-Kettering Cancer Center
in New York.
But a healthy lifestyle can help protect your breasts.
These are the changes and methods for early detection experts say are essential:
1. Stay at
a healthy weight
Being heavy can increase your risk of developing the
disease as well as reduce your risk of surviving it says Harold Freeman, MD,
president and founder of the Ralph Lauren Center for Cancer and Prevention in
New York City.
2. Break a
sweat
Aim to exercise for 45 minutes to an hour five days a
week. Workouts regular fitness can help prevent the disease by stimulating the
immune function, ward off obesity, and lower levels of estrogen and insulin.
3. Drink
less alcohol
Research has shown that two drinks a day may increase
breast cancer risk by 21 percent. Instead, try swapping wine for fresh grapes.
Resveratrol, found in grape skin, can help reduce your estrogen levels, which
can reduce your risk.
4. Eat
your vegetables
A low-fat diet can do much to reduce your risk, but
for even more protection, add some cruciferous vegetables like broccoli and
kale, your plate. They contain sulforaphane, which is believed to help prevent
cancer cells from multiplying. For an extra dose of power struggle against
cancer, eat them raw.
5. Know
your family history
"In about 15 percent of cases of breast cancer, there
is a family history of the disease," says Freeman. If you have a
first-degree relative who had breast cancer, your risk doubles the lifespan,
and if you have both your risk increases five times.
6. To be
checked
All women should have a clinical breast exam at least
every three years and annual exams and mammograms starting at age 40. Women
with a family history should begin screening before age 10 years member the
diagnostic family. Ask if the facility offers digital mammography - it allows
adjustments to contrast the image may be easier to see. Young women at
increased risk may also apply for either an MRI or ultrasound in addition to
mammography.
7. Consider
genetic testing
"When cancer strikes young women are more likely to be
connected to a BRCA mutation," says Mangino. Two red flags to be carrying
the BRCA: being of Ashkenazi (Eastern European) Jewish descent or with a family
history of breast cancer and ovarian cancer. "If you have one of these
factors, see a genetic counselor to talk about getting tested," she said.
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