In Nigeria today, the rate of women being affected by breast
cancer is on increase daily..generally, In Nigeria, about 10,000 cancer deaths
are recorded annually while 250,000 new cases are recorded yearly.
No matter how conflicted we may be, breasts are part of our
female identity, which may be why, for most of us, having breast cancer is our
biggest fear. We're more afraid of it than we are of heart disease, which is 10
times more likely to be what sends us to the great beyond ,But there is a lot
of good news about breast cancer these days. Treatments keep getting better,
and we know more than ever about ways to prevent the disease.
Many factors over the course of a lifetime can influence
your breast cancer risk. You can’t change some factors, such as getting older
or your family history, but you can help lower your risk of breast cancer by
taking care of your health.
Breast Cancer Prevention: How to Reduce The Risk
1. Know your family
cancer history
About 5 to 10% of breast cancer is hereditary, passed from
one generation to the next via a variety of mutated genes. Your father's family
counts as much as your mother's. And look at your family's history of other
kinds of cancer, too. Men can carry some of the same aberrant genes, such as
BRCA1 and 2, that up the risk of not only breast cancer but also ovarian cancer
in women, pancreatic cancer in men and women, and early prostate and testicular
cancers in men. Also, multiple diagnoses on either side of your family can be a
clue to a hereditary link. You may be at high risk of breast cancer if you have
a mother or sister who developed breast or ovarian cancer (especially at an
early age) or if you have multiple
family members (including males) who developed breast,
ovarian or prostate cancer. A doctor or genetic counselor can help you understand
your family history of the disease.
2.Keep Weight in
Check
It’s easy to tune out because it gets said so often, but
maintaining a healthy weight is an important goal for everyone. Being
overweight can increase the risk of many different cancers, including breast
cancer, especially after menopause. This is especially true if obesity occurs
later in life.
3. Avoid Radiation : Try as much as possible
to Avoid exposure to radiation like x-ray and environmental pollution.
Medical-imaging methods, such as computerized tomography, use high doses of
radiation. While more studies are needed, some research suggests a link between
breast cancer and radiation exposure. Reduce your exposure by having such tests
only when absolutely necessary.
4. Breast-feed.
Breast-feeding might play a role in breast cancer prevention. The longer you
breast-feed, the greater the protective effect.
5. Don't smoke.
Accumulating evidence suggests a link between smoking and breast cancer risk,
particularly in premenopausal women. In addition, not smoking is one of the
best things you can do for your overall health
6. Alcohol intake
: The more alcohol you drink, the greater your risk of developing breast
cancer. The general recommendation — based on research on the effect of alcohol
on breast cancer risk — is to limit yourself to less than 1 drink per day as
even small amounts increase risk.
7. Regular Exercise
: Exercise is as close to a silver bullet for good health as there is, and
women who are physically active for at least 30 minutes a day have a lower risk
of breast cancer. Regular exercise is also one of the best ways to help keep
weight in check..
8. Eat Your Fruits
& Vegetables
A healthy diet can help lower the risk of breast
cancer. Try to eat a lot of fruits and
vegetables, Research continues to produce promising evidence that what you eat
can affect your risk. For example, Harvard researchers recently found that
women who had the highest carotenoid levels in their blood had a 19% lower risk
of breast cancer than those with the lowest levels. Carotenoids are found in
fruits and vegetables such as leafy greens, carrots, and red peppers. Women who
consumed more carotenoids had an even lower risk of developing
estrogen-receptor-negative breast cancer.
9. Avoid Birth
Control Pills, Particularly After Age 35 or If You Smoke
Birth control pills have both risks and benefits. The
younger a woman is, the lower the risks are. While women are taking birth
control pills, they have a slightly increased risk of breast cancer. This risk
goes away quickly, though, after stopping the pill. The risk of stroke and
heart attack is also increased while on the pill – particularly if a woman
smokes. However, long-term use can also have important benefits, like lowering
the risk of ovarian cancer, colon cancer and uterine cancer – not to mention
unwanted pregnancy – so there’s also a lot in its favor. If you’re very
concerned about breast cancer, avoiding birth control pills is one option to
lower risk.
10. Regular Screening
: Try as much as possible to go for
checkups and screening regularly, Despite
some controversy, studies show that breast cancer screening with mammography
saves lives. It doesn’t help prevent cancer, but it can help find cancer early
when it’s most treatable. For most
women, regular mammograms can begin at age 40, but specific recommendations
vary by age and risk.
If you are age 40 –
44:
You can choose to begin yearly mammograms. It is important to talk to a doctor about the
risk and benefits of mammograms at these ages.
If you are age 45 –
54:
Mammograms are recommended every year.
If you are age 55 or over:
Mammograms are recommended every other year. You can choose
to continue to have them every year.
Clinical breast exams and self-exams are not recommended.
But you should be familiar with your breasts and tell a health care provider
right away if you notice any changes in how your breasts look or feel.
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