Preventing Breast Cancer

This month, October, is a very important time for the fight against breast cancer. Men and women everywhere rally to end the epidemic that affects so many women (and men, too!) across our nation. It’s a time for coming together, educating, and making improvements.

Some of these improvements are made at a national level in the government, but others can be made by you, on a personal and private level. After all, the object of defeating breast cancer often centers on prevention, and no one can take steps towards prevention but you. So what can you do?

First, you need to understand some of the factors that cause breast cancer, so you know how to circumvent and avoid them.

I think one popular misconception about cancer (particularly in younger people) is that it is some type of “wasting” disease. People think that it “takes away” from your body. But what actually happens is that it “adds” to your body in that you develop a tumor. Abnormal cells grow too quickly and multiply to form lumps that we call tumors. These are caused by cellular mutation, which has a variety of causes.

Age, gender, genetics, and your environment are all factors that cause breast cancer. Of course, you didn’t choose to be a woman, you didn’t choose your genetics, and you can’t change your age, either, but there are other things you can to do help with the prevention of breast cancer.

1. Know what your breasts look and feel like. You should have a general idea of what you breasts look and feel like; the skin, any abnormalities, and so on. If anything strange or unusual comes up, or you develop a change, like dimpling of the skin, you’ll be the first to notice. At that point, you should see a doctor, and remember that early detection saves lives.
2. Get enough exercise. Women who are obese are at risk for breast cancer, particularly after menopause. Make sure you’re engaging in enough physical activity, even if that means you’re just taking regular walks.
3. Eat right! Again, obesity is a big factor in many different conditions – not only breast cancer. Get enough veggies, water, fruits, and protein to make sure you’re healthy.
4. Get mammograms. If you are over the age of 40, the National Cancer Institute recommends getting mammograms every one to two years.
5. Explore new treatments. If you are genetically predisposed for developing breast cancer, hormonal treatments may be effective. Pills that reduce estrogen levels have been shown to reduce your risk of getting cancer. You should talk to your doctor about these kinds of treatments if a relative has had breast cancer.

Please remember that October is Breast Cancer Awareness month, so do more than just wear pink! Put forth the effort to take care of yourself and contribute to ending cancer for good.