How To Prevent Breast Cancer In 8 Simple Steps

Breast cancer is a disease that occurs in women. Many women are concerned simply by reading such words. That is completely understandable.

Almost everyone knows someone impacted by the illness.

However, there is a lot of good news these days about breast cancer. Treatments are improving, and we now have more knowledge than ever about how to prevent the disease. These eight simple steps will help minimize your risk of developing breast cancer. Although not all of them are applicable to every woman, when taken together, they can have a big impact.

1. Maintain a Healthy Weight:

It's easy to tune out since it's been repeated so often, but maintaining a healthy weight is something that everyone should strive for. Obesity increases the risk of many cancers, including breast cancer, especially after menopause.

2. Participate in physical activity:

Exercise is the closest thing to a miracle cure for good health, and women who exercise for at least 30 minutes every day have a lower risk of breast cancer. Regular exercise is also one of the best ways to keep a healthy weight.

3. Eat More Fruits and Vegetables and Drink Less Alcohol (Zero is Best):

A good diet can help minimize the risk of breast cancer. Limit your alcohol intake and consume plenty of fruits and vegetables. Even moderate drinking can increase the risk of breast cancer in older people, but it can also be good to the heart. And, given the other risks of alcohol, refraining is the healthiest choice.

4. Stop Smoking:

Both smokers and nonsmokers understand the dangers of smoking. It also causes poor breath, rotting teeth, and wrinkles, lowering quality of life and increasing the risk of heart disease, stroke, and at least 15 cancers, including breast cancer. That alone should motivate you to stop or stay smoke-free.

5. If feasible, breastfeed:

Breastfeeding for at least one year (for all children) lowers the risk of breast cancer. It also helps the child's health.

6. Avoid taking birth control tablets after the age of 35:

Pills for birth control have both disadvantages and perks. The lady gets younger as the risk decreases. Women who use birth control tablets have a slightly increased risk of developing breast cancer. However, once you stop using the pill, this risk goes away instantly. A woman's risk of having a stroke or heart attack increases while on the pill, especially if she smokes. Long-term use, on the other hand, can have major benefits, including as lowering the risk of ovarian, colon, and uterine cancer, as well as unintended pregnancy, so it has a lot going for it. If you're concerned about breast cancer, avoiding birth control pills is one approach to lower your chances.

7. Avoid postmenopausal hormones:

The long-term use of postmenopausal hormones to avoid chronic illnesses such as osteoporosis and heart disease is not suggested. According to research, they have a mixed effect on health, increasing the risk of some diseases while decreasing the danger of others; both estrogen-only and estrogen-plus-progestin hormones increase the risk of breast cancer. If postmenopausal hormones are utilized, they should be used for the shortest term possible. Your doctor is the best person to speak with about the risks and benefits of post-menopausal hormones.

8. Tamoxifen-Raloxifene for High-Risk Women:

Despite the fact that it is not normally thought of as a "healthy" food, Tamoxifen is a prescription pharmaceutical used to treat breast cancer, and raloxifene can significantly lower the incidence of coronary artery disease and breast cancer in women who are at high risk of acquiring the condition. 

The FDA has approved this product to prevent breast cancer. These strong drugs can have serious side effects, so use caution.

They are not fit for everyone, even if you believe they are.

If you are at high risk for breast cancer, consult your doctor about whether tamoxifen or raloxifene are appropriate for you.

Learn more about your ancestors.

Women with a strong family history of cancer may take further precautions to protect themselves, thus knowing their family history is critical. If you have a mother or sister who has breast or ovarian cancer (especially at a young age), or if you have a large number of family members (including men) who have breast, ovarian, or prostate cancer, you may be at a high risk of developing breast cancer. A doctor or genetic counselor can help you determine your disease's familial history.

Mammograms must not be disregarded.

Mammograms help save lives by finding breast cancer early. It can not help prevent cancer, but it can assist discover cancer at an early stage when it is more treatable.

Most women should get mammograms every year starting at the age of 40.

Mammograms may need to be started earlier for women who are more likely to develop breast cancer. As a result, around the age of 30, you should speak with your doctor about any breast cancer risk factors you may have and whether you would benefit from earlier screening.

Regular breast self-examinations for screening purposes are not recommended. They have not been proven to be useful. However, you should be familiar with your breasts and report any changes in how they look or feel to a healthcare provider right away.

Related: Exploring Natural Ways To Treat Cancer