Breast Cancer Prevention

Discussion of breast cancer awareness in recent years seems to have focused on promoting self-breast exams and whether or not one should receive a mammogram. Although mammograms play an important role in prevention, wouldn’t it be nice to know whether you can do more for prevention?  By choosing the healthiest lifestyle options possible, you can keep your breast cancer risk as low as possible.

            Let’s cut to the chase: Overweight and obese women (with a BMI higher than 25) have a higher risk of being diagnosed with breast cancer compared to women who maintain a healthy weight. The extra fat triggers a long-term, low-grade inflammation in the body. Fat cells also make estrogen. The extra fat cells cause more estrogen to be produced, and estrogen can make hormone-receptor-positive breast cancers develop and grow. A new finding from the Women’s Health Initiative suggests that the more obese a postmenopausal woman is, the higher her risk of breast cancer.

            Increase in weight also affects premenopausal women; a rise in breast cancer in this age group has occurred as well. Some researchers believe the timing of prevention matters. Girls that eat high calorie, low nutrient diets that contain few fruits and vegetables, combined with little to no exercise, will start their periods younger. This means their bodies are exposed to estrogen longer. Girls who eat more fruits, vegetables, whole grains and who exercise may start their periods later, exposing themselves to less estrogen throughout their lives. The following is a list of quick tips for prevention:

• Eat a diet rich in fruits, vegetables and whole grains beginning in childhood.
• Be physically active as a child and continue throughout life.
• Avoid gaining weight as you age.
• If you do gain weight, lose at least 10 percent of your body weight.
• Limit or avoid alcohol, especially between the years between your first period and the birth of your first child.
• Limit alcohol throughout your life.
• Avoid hormone replacement therapy that contains estrogen and progesterone if agreed upon by you and your doctor.
• Get yearly mammograms beginning at age 40 or what is planned by you and your physician.
• Perform monthly self-breast exams.

Melanie Yunger is a local wife, mother and nurse practitioner.

As always, please consult your health care provider with any questions or concerns.