Cancer is the most common cause of death noticed in women. Although treatments have improved, prevention and quick detection can have the greatest impact on reducing the burden of cancer in women. Many factors throughout a lifetime can influence your breast cancer risk that include family history, reproductive past, nutrition, alcohol use, weight, hormone use, and radiation exposure. It is also necessary to point out that in some cases women who develop breast cancer do not have any of these risk factors and so it is crucial to discuss with a doctor if there are any symptoms.

The following are some of the steps that can take to lower your risk:

1. Obesity : Obesity is a common cause for several diseases, including diabetic and cancer. Obesity can be more serious than imagine that lead to several dangerous illnesses. It is important to follow a proper healthy diet and regular exercise habit that can benefit lessen obesity and lead a healthy life.

2. Eat a healthy, stable diet: It is believed that good diet can help prevent cancer, including breast cancer, and can prevent the disease’s progression or recurrence. A preventative diet that includes five to eight meals of fruits and vegetables each day, a raise in omega-3 fatty acids, and limits excessive refined sugars and fats is important. There are also some cancer-fighting meals like broccoli, cabbage, kale, watermelon and whole grains that are helpful if consumed regularly.

3. Avoid alcohol and smoking: Regular drinking and smoking can increase the risk of breast cancer. Avoiding drinking alcohol and smoking is the best thing one can do for the overall such diseases. It is recommended to restrict yourself to less than one drink per day as even small quantities increase the risk of illness.

4. Breastfeed : Breastfeeding plays a crucial role in the prevention of breast cancer. It is noticed that women who avoid breastfeeding can see a high risk of breast cancer in their life. This is because of hormone imbalances that can lead to an increase in hormones that can cause cancer.

5. Avoid Birth Control Pills : Birth control pills have both risks and advantages. The younger you are, the lower the risks. However, women taking birth control tablets, they have a slightly high chance of breast cancer. This risk goes away immediately after discontinuing the pill. The risk of stroke and heart attack is also possible even though on the pill especially if a woman smoke. Nevertheless, long-term use can also have major benefits, like reducing the risk of ovarian, colon and uterine cancer and unwanted pregnancy, so there’s also a lot in its favour.

6. Consult a doctor : Tests and diagnosis are important if it comes to illnesses such as breast cancer, an early diagnosis can save your life. Women having symptoms with breast cancer should get frequently check. Even if you do not have any symptoms getting tested every few months/years is necessary.

Though there are several risk factors when it comes to breast cancer but the most important thing is to be alert about breast cancer detection. If you notice any differences in your breasts, such as a lump or skin changes then it is suggested to consult a doctor.

Dr. Deepali Gonjari, Breast Surgeon
Aditya Birla Memorial Hospital

The post Breast cancer prevention: How to reduce your risk? appeared first on Health Vision.

Breast cancer has become ordinary cancer in urban women in India and the second most common in rural women.According to latest findings,  in India every 4 minutes, a woman is diagnosed with breast cancer of which one dies every 8 minutes. Early detection remains the most important step to counter the soaring number of breast cancer cases.

Regular self-breast exams are something every woman should feel comfortable and confident doing as a part of a healthcare regime.  The ongoing lockdown is an anxious time for all of us, particularly for those who have health concerns. Understandably, women might be worried about leaving their homes for diagnosis during the pandemic but they can self-examine their breasts at regular intervals staying at home by way of breast self-examination.

1.Preventative Care Risk factors of breast cancer:

There is no evidence to suggest that a particular technique works best, but checking your breasts regularly is vital. The goal of screening for early breast cancer detection is to identify breast abnormalities as early as possible. A mammogram can find breast cancer before it can be felt. The sooner breast cancer is diagnosed, the more effective the treatment will be.

 2. Know Your Risk Factor

It’s all about knowing your risk level. Women with a strong family history of cancer can take special steps to examine themselves, so it’s important for women to know their family history. A physician or genetic counselor can help you understand your family history of the disease.

 3. A Healthy Lifestyle

Breast cancer risk can be lowered by making healthy lifestyle practices like being physically active by doing daily exercise, maintaining a balanced diet and healthy weight, opting for early pregnancy and breastfeeding, avoiding smoking and alcohol. Researches show that when your weight is under control especially as you age, the risk for breast cancer decreases.

4.Breastfeed

Some research suggests that breastfeeding potentially plays an important role in breast-cancer prevention. Mothers who breastfeed their babies for six months or longer may have a slightly lower risk of developing breast cancer.

5.Hormone Replacement Therapy

Taking a combination of estrogen and progestin for a prolonged period upsurges the risk of developing breast cancer. Women taking this hormone combination to combat menopausal symptoms should consult with their physician about other alternatives available. If it’s determined that the benefits of short-term hormone therapy outweigh the risk, the lowest effective dose should be prescribed.

By integrating these steps into your daily routine, not only do women reduce the risk of breast cancer, but also look at their overall health. It is time to invest in your well-being and health by setting short-term self-preservation targets. With a positive mindset and an unwavering will, the battle against cancer is easily winnable.

Easy steps to self-examine for breast cancer :

As October marks the Breast Cancer Awareness month, Fujifilm India urges you to get a preventive breast cancer examination. The main, most important and simplest thing to do is to learn how to self-examine for breast cancer.

The post Regular self-breast exams helps to detect and prevent breast cancer appeared first on Health Vision.