Must-know changes and early-detection methods.
Protect Yourself When it comes to young women and breast cancer, there’s good news and bad news. The good: Their chances of having the disease are much lower than an older woman’s. The bad: If cancer does strike, it can be more aggressive, says Debra Mangino, M.D., of New York’s Memorial Sloan-Kettering Cancer Center.
But a healthy lifestyle can help protect your breasts. These are the changes and early-detection methods experts say are key:
Stay at a Healthy Weight
Being heavy can increase your
risk of developing the disease as well as reduce your risk of surviving
it, says Harold Freeman, M.D., president and founder of the Ralph
Lauren Center for Cancer and Prevention in New York City.
Break a Sweat
Aim to exercise for 45
minutes to an hour five days a week. Regular fitness workouts may help
prevent the disease by boosting immune function, warding off obesity,
and lowering levels of estrogen and insulin.
Drink Less Alcohol
Research has shown that two
drinks a day could increase breast cancer risk by 21 percent. Instead,
try swapping wine for fresh grapes. Resveratrol, found in the skin of
grapes, may help reduce your estrogen levels, which in turn may reduce
your risk.
Eat Your Veggies
A low-fat diet can do a lot
to reduce your risk, but for even more protection, add some cruciferous
vegetables, such as broccoli and kale, to your plate. They contain
sulforaphane, which is believed to help prevent cancer cells from
multiplying. For an extra dose of cancer-fighting power, eat them raw.
Know Your Family History
“In about 15 percent of
breast cancer cases, there is a family history of the disease,” Freeman
says. If you have one first-degree relative who had breast cancer, your
lifetime risk doubles, and if you have two your risk increases
five-fold.
Get Checked
All women should have a
clinical breast exam at least every three years and annual exams and
mammograms starting at age 40. Women with a family history should begin
screening 10 years prior to the family member’s age of diagnosis.
Ask if
the facility offers digital mammography–it allows for adjustments in
contrast so the image can be easier to see. Young women at increased
risk may also want to ask for either an MRI or a sonogram in addition to
the mammogram.
Consider Genetic Testing
“When cancer strikes young
women, it’s more likely to be connected to a BRCA mutation,” Mangino
says. Two red flags for being a BRCA carrier: being of Ashkenazi
(Eastern European) Jewish descent or having a family history of both
breast and ovarian cancer. “If you have either of these factors, see a
genetic counselor to talk about getting tested,” she says.
Source: healthdigezt.com
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