In the October issues of Woman's Day, they share 10 ways to protect yourself against breast cancer and lower your risk ... and I thought I'd share with you. Your welcome.
1. Self-exams are no longer officially recommended ... but do them anyway. Be familiar with your body; you can catch something those fancy machines won't.
2. The radiation ou get from a mammogram is minimal. The new digital machines use about 22% less radiation than the traditional film mammography.
3. Having a drink a day is probably too much. Alcohol may be good for your heart, but when it comes to your breasts, its another story.
4. What you weigh matters more than what you eat. Numerous studies have founds that extra pounds increase your risk of postmenopausal breast cancer or having a recurrence. The more fat you have, the more estrogen your body stores, and estrogen can stimulate tumor growth.
5. If you're at increased risk, taking a preventive medication could cut your risk in half. Find out if your eligible for preventable drugs.
6. If your mom had breast cancer after menopause, your risk may only be slightly above average. Your risk is just 2-5% higher than average, so your doctor may not screen you differently.
7. More than 90% of women who get breast cancer don't have a family history of the disease. Every woman is potentially at risk.
8. Smoking is bad for your breasts. People who smoked 10+ years were 16% more likely than nonsmokers to develop breast cancer.
9. If you get breast cancer, you may not need a mastectomy or chemo.
10. Just 30 minutes of exercise 5 days a week can cut your breast cancer risk by nearly 20%. Exercise keeps your weight down, your estrogen low, and boosts your immune system.
Protect yourself ladies!!
1. Self-exams are no longer officially recommended ... but do them anyway. Be familiar with your body; you can catch something those fancy machines won't.
2. The radiation ou get from a mammogram is minimal. The new digital machines use about 22% less radiation than the traditional film mammography.
3. Having a drink a day is probably too much. Alcohol may be good for your heart, but when it comes to your breasts, its another story.
4. What you weigh matters more than what you eat. Numerous studies have founds that extra pounds increase your risk of postmenopausal breast cancer or having a recurrence. The more fat you have, the more estrogen your body stores, and estrogen can stimulate tumor growth.
5. If you're at increased risk, taking a preventive medication could cut your risk in half. Find out if your eligible for preventable drugs.
6. If your mom had breast cancer after menopause, your risk may only be slightly above average. Your risk is just 2-5% higher than average, so your doctor may not screen you differently.
7. More than 90% of women who get breast cancer don't have a family history of the disease. Every woman is potentially at risk.
8. Smoking is bad for your breasts. People who smoked 10+ years were 16% more likely than nonsmokers to develop breast cancer.
9. If you get breast cancer, you may not need a mastectomy or chemo.
10. Just 30 minutes of exercise 5 days a week can cut your breast cancer risk by nearly 20%. Exercise keeps your weight down, your estrogen low, and boosts your immune system.
Protect yourself ladies!!
Thanks for posting this information. I'm a smoker who has been trying to quit for a while now and #8 just scared me to death!
ReplyDeleteI had no idea that alcohol was linked to breast cancer. :/
ReplyDeleteThanks for posting the 10 ways to protect yourself against breast cancer and lower your risk ... Education is the best way to reach women and inform them of the risks of breast cancer and the importance of prevention screening.
ReplyDeletenicolesender(at)yahoo(dot)com
Thanks for the tips - I really need to implement a regular exercise routine for myself.
ReplyDeletemandalarctic at gmail dot com