Being female is the most important risk factor. Certainly men get it, but it is almost 100 times more common among women. What is it? I am talking about breast cancer.
Did you know that more than 90 percent of women diagnosed with breast cancer have no family history? While a negative family history does not protect you, the stronger a familial link to breast cancer, such as the number and age of family members previously diagnosed or a positive finding of certain genetic mutations, the higher your risk. Age is a strong indicator of who develops breast cancer. In general, the rates of breast cancer are low in women under the age of 40, begin to increase after the age of 40 and are highest in women over the age of 70. Other risk factors are: not having had a child, having had a child after the age of 30, being overweight, onset of menses (periods) before the age of 12, drinking more than one alcoholic drink per day, lack of exercise and higher levels of estrogen in a menopausal woman.
There is no sure way to avoid breast cancer but some healthy lifestyle choices may help lower the risk of the disease while improving your overall health. A few tips for a healthier lifestyle are: maintain a healthy weight, exercise 30 minutes four times a week, take a daily vitamin that includes folic acid, limit “bad” fats and consume more “good” fats, like olive and canola oil, increase your intake of fruits and vegetables to nine servings a day and limit alcohol intake.
Regular screening tests can catch breast cancer early when it is most treatable. Monthly breast self exams (BSE) should be performed by women three to seven days after each menstrual cycle begins. For women no longer cycling regularly, pick a day of each month to do your BSE. Certainly annual mammograms are a must for any woman over the age of forty or earlier depending on individual risk factors or clinical findings. The latest technology is the breast MRI, not a routine recommendation but available for high-risk women and in specific situations of abnormal mammogram findings.
To schedule a breast exam and risk assessment, please call Caring for You at 661-284-2400.