Foods That May Lower Breast Cancer Risk
Keep in mind that many factors are associated with breast cancer development. While improving your diet can improve your overall health and reduce your cancer risk in general, its only one piece of the puzzle.
Even with a healthy diet, you still need regular breast cancer screenings like mammograms and manual checks. After all, early detection and diagnosis significantly increase survival rates. Talk to your healthcare provider for advice about breast cancer screenings.
All the same, research suggests that these foods may lower your risk of this disease.
Treatments To Reduce Your Risk
Your level of risk is determined by factors such as your age, your family’s medical history, and the results of genetic tests.
If you have an increased risk of developing breast cancer, treatment is available to reduce your risk.
You’ll usually be referred for specialist genetic testing if it’s thought you have an increased risk of breast cancer. Healthcare professionals at these services should discuss treatment options with you.
The 2 main treatments are surgery to remove the breasts or medicine.
Preventive Surgery For Women With Very High Breast Cancer Risk
For the small fraction of women who have a very high risk of breast cancer, such as from a BRCA gene mutation, surgery to remove the breasts may be an option. Another option might be to remove the ovaries, which are the main source of estrogen in the body. While surgery can lower the risk of breast cancer, it cant eliminate it completely, and it can have its own side effects. For more on this topic, see Preventive Surgery to Reduce Breast Cancer Risk.
Before deciding if any of these options might be right for you, talk with your health care provider to understand your risk of breast cancer and how much these approaches might affect your risk.
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Be Mindful Of Your Environment Including Household Chemicals
It’s long been suspected that environmental exposures, including the chemicals we are exposed to in everything from household cleaners to cosmetics, may play a role both in breast cancer risk and recurrence. While it’s difficult to study , we are learning that practicing caution is wise.
A 2017 review looked at the evidence to date connecting breast cancer and the environment. Some compounds, such as PCBs , may raise the risk of recurrence. Others may alter the regulation of genes involved in cell growth, apoptosis , and much more. Endocrine disrupting chemicals can mimic the function of hormones in our bodies, and it’s well known that the hormone estrogen should be avoided to reduce breast cancer recurrence, at least for people with hormone positive tumors.
There is a great amount of information out there of varying degrees of concern, but the important thing to note is that it’s relatively easy to avoid concerning chemicals . Most household cleaners can easily be replaced with baking soda, lemon juice, and vinegar .
The environmental working group has a website where you can search on thousands of personal care products . And adding a few houseplants to your home can help to absorb many indoor air carcinogens with indoor air thought to be more of a concern that outdoor air pollution.
The Following Are Protective Factors For Breast Cancer:
Reproductive history resulting in less exposure to estrogen
A womans reproductive history can affect the length of time her breast tissue is exposed to estrogen. Early onset of menstruation, late onset of menopause, later age at first pregnancy, and never having given birth have been linked to an increase in estrogen exposure and breast cancer risk. The following reproductive factors decrease the length of time a woman’s breast tissue is exposed to estrogen and may help prevent breast cancer:
- Early pregnancy: Estrogen levels are lower during pregnancy. Women who have a full-term pregnancy before age 20 have a lower risk of breast cancer than women who have not had children or who give birth to their first child after age 35.
- Breast-feeding: Estrogen levels may remain lower while a woman is breast-feeding. Women who breastfed have a lower risk of breast cancer than women who have had children but did not breastfeed.
Taking estrogen-only hormone therapy after hysterectomy, selective estrogen receptor modulators, or aromatase inhibitors and inactivators
Estrogen-only hormone therapy after hysterectomy
Hormone therapy with estrogen only may be given to women who have had a hysterectomy. In these women, estrogen-only therapy after menopause may decrease the risk of breast cancer. There is an increased risk of stroke and heart and blood vessel disease in postmenopausal women who take estrogen after a hysterectomy.
Selective estrogen receptor modulators
Ovarian ablation
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Get Smart: Know Your Risk
Prevention has to start with knowledge. Women at an increased risk of breast cancer may need to start screening earlier or be screened more frequently than women of average risk. You might be at an increased risk if you:
- Are overweight or obese or are not physically active
- Have mutations of BRCA-1, BRCA-2 or PALB-2 genes
- Have a family or personal history of breast, colorectal or ovarian cancer
- Began menstrual period before 12 or began menopause after 55
- Have never had children or had your first child after age 30
- Are currently using or have recently used birth control pills
- Have used hormone replacement therapy for more than 10 years
What Causes Breast Cancer
The risk for breast cancer increases as you age. Most breast cancers are usually diagnosed after age 50. Genetic mutations and inherited changes to certain genes, such as BRCA1 and BRCA2 can also be one of the causes.
There are different combinations of treatment that can be performed depending on the specific cancer cell being affected. Proper health care is essential to prevent the recurrence of the illness and help the women live a longer life.
PublicAwareness The best way to prevent this kind of illness is by being informed.There are different cancer screenings offered by most public healthcareproviders like hospitals and medical practices. They offer these cancerscreenings free of charge so that every woman can avail of it and be aware ofwhat they have to look out for.
Most ofthe screenings target young women between the ages of fifteen and forty. Inaddition, there are various educational programs and seminars that are availablefor both men and women to educate them on how to spot the symptoms of cancer.
How to prevent breast cancer naturally
Research Another very important way to prevent breast cancer is by conducting research about it. There are a number of researches being conducted to help in better understanding of the illness.
Researchwill also help in creating the necessary preventive measures. There aredifferent types of researches that are conducted and all of them aim to fullyunderstand the causes of breast cancer and how it can be prevented.
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Genetic Counseling And Testing
If there are reasons to think you might have inherited a gene change that increases your risk of breast cancer , you might want to talk to your doctor about genetic counseling to see if you should be tested. To learn more, see Genetic Counseling and Testing for Breast Cancer Risk.
If you decide to be tested and a gene change is found, this might affect your decision about using the options below to help lower your risk for breast cancer
How Often Should I Get A Breast Cancer Screening
Getting regular breast cancer screenings is one of the most important things you can do to keep your breasts healthy. Its important to follow your doctor or nurses recommendations for how often you should get a breast health check up.
Breast cancer screenings are based on both your age and your risk level. If you’ve never had breast or ovarian cancer and you don’t have any relatives who’ve had either disease, its likely that your risk for breast cancer is average. You should:
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Get to know what your breasts feel like and let your doctor or nurse know if you find a lump or notice any other changes.
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Get a breast exam every 1-3 years from ages 25-39, and then every year after you turn 40.
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Get a mammogram every 1-2 years after you turn 40.
If youve had breast or ovarian cancer or have a relative whos had it, you might be at a higher risk. Talk to your doctor to find out how often you should have breast exams and mammograms. They may also recommend you get genetic counseling, which means meeting with someone who has special training to figure out your risk of getting breast cancer.
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Best Way To Prevent Breast Cancer
By Fritz
The best way to prevent breast cancer is something that every woman has been desperately searching for. It is a disease that most women fear since it affects the most sensitive organ of the body, the breast.
This can cause major emotional and psychological problems in a womans life, especially if she had a history of the disease in her family.
The good news is that the best way to prevent breast cancer does exist and it can be accomplished with proper care and prevention. With proper education and information, it can be possible to keep cancer from ever coming back without any complications.
Weight Exercise And Breast Cancer Risk
Being overweight or obese raises the risk of breast cancer. This is very important after menopause. Excess fat can increase the body’s estrogen levels. It is also the main source of estrogen after menopause. Estrogen can cause the growth of breast cancer cells.
Women who are obese after menopause are 30 percent more likely to develop breast cancer. Gaining more than 22 pounds after menopause raises the risk of breast cancer by 18 percent.
To find out if you are overweight, calculate your body mass index . BMI is based on your height and weight. Your BMI should be between 18 and 24.9. A BMI between 25 and 29.9 is considered overweight. If your BMI is higher than 30, you are considered obese.
Exercise and weight loss can help women who are overweight or obese lower their risk of breast cancer. Obese women who are able to lose at least 22 pounds after menopause can lower their breast cancer risk by 57 percent.
Talk with your clinician if you have questions about your ideal body weight and your BMI. Always check with your doctor before beginning any new exercise plan or diet to find out what plan is best for you.
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The Best Way To Prevent Breast Cancer Is With This Smoothie
Ingredients
- One small piece of ginger
- 1 lemon
How to prepare it
Wash the ingredients, extract the juice from the lemon and chop the ingredients so that they can be easily liquefied. Add a little water and blend until you get a consistent and smooth juice.
How to use it
This shake should be taken every day, 1 glass on an empty stomach and another before going to sleep.
If you feel that this article has helped you, do not forget to share it with everyone so that you can also benefit from it. Since the only solution and best way to prevent breast cancer is to be informed: Lets raise awareness of all women!
Avoid Birth Control Pills Particularly After Age 35 Or If You Smoke
Birth control pills have both risks and benefits. The younger a woman is, the lower the risks are. While women are taking birth control pills, they have a slightly increased risk of breast cancer. This risk goes away quickly, though, after stopping the pill. The risk of stroke and heart attack is also increased while on the pill particularly if a woman smokes. However, long-term use can also have important benefits, like lowering the risk of ovarian cancer, colon cancer and uterine cancer not to mention unwanted pregnancy so theres also a lot in its favor. If youre very concerned about breast cancer, avoiding birth control pills is one option to lower risk.
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If You Are Age 55 Or Over:
Mammograms are recommended every other year. You can choose to continue to have them every year.
Clinical breast exams and self-exams are not recommended. But you should be familiar with your breasts and tell a health care provider right away if you notice any changes in how your breasts look or feel.
Lifestyle Changes After Breast Cancer
Lifestyle Changes after Breast Cancer Treatment: Conversations on Survival. A group of breast cancer survivors openly discuss what lifestyle changes were continued or changed after treatment. The importance of living in the moment, maintaining a healthy lifestyle, and knowing what is really important in life are all discussed.
To help yourself better cope with the side effects of breast cancer treatment and to reduce your chances of breast cancer recurrence, try incorporating these healthy tips:
1) Take care of yourself emotionally
- Put your needs first sometimes
- Attend a support group or find a breast cancer survivor you can talk with
- Stay informed about new breast cancer research
- Consider psychotherapy and/or antidepressants if warranted if youre taking tamoxifen, check with your oncologist to ensure the prescribed antidepressant does not interfere with your endocrine treatment
- Communicate with your doctor about fears or concerns
- Volunteer or become a breast cancer advocate
2) Take care of yourself physically
- Exercise regularly
- Report any physical changes to either your oncologist or primary care provider
- Seek treatment for lymphedema if you experience signs
3) Eat healthy
Research has shown that a diet high in fat and calories increases circulating estrogen in the blood. Consuming a low fat and low calorie diet after breast cancer can improve your overall health and wellness. Here are some dietary suggestions:
4) Reduce stress
5) Limit alcohol
6) Exercise regularly
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Limit Your Alcohol Intake
A glass of wine after a long day is totally OK. But according to the American Cancer Center, the less alcohol you drink, the better you’ll be when it comes to reducing the risk of breast cancer. And if you’re goal is to have a really healthy brain, know that This Is Exactly How Much Alcohol You Should Drink.
The 10 Commandments Of Cancer Prevention
About one of every three Americans will develop some form of malignancy during his or her lifetime. Despite these grim statistics, doctors have made great progress in understanding the biology of cancer cells, and they have already been able to improve the diagnosis and treatment of cancer.
But instead of just waiting for new breakthroughs, you can do a lot to protect yourself right now. Screening tests can help detect malignancies in their earliest stages, but you should always be alert for symptoms of the disease. The American Cancer Society developed this simple reminder years ago:
- C: Change in bowel or bladder habits
- A: A sore that does not heal
- U: Unusual bleeding or discharge
- T: Thickening or lump in the breast or elsewhere
- I: Indigestion or difficulty in swallowing
- O: Obvious change in a wart or mole
- N: Nagging cough or hoarseness
It’s a rough guide at best. The vast majority of such symptoms are caused by nonmalignant disorders, and cancers can produce symptoms that don’t show up on the list, such as unexplained weight loss or fatigue. But it is a useful reminder to listen to your body and report sounds of distress to your doctor.
2. Eat properly. Reduce your consumption of saturated fat and red meat, which may increase the risk of colon cancer and a more aggressive form of prostate cancer. Increase your consumption of fruits, vegetables, and whole grains.
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Eat More Plants And Less Meat
More specifically, eat more brightly colored vegetables and fruits. Plant pigments called flavonoids have anticancer properties, and people who consume more of them seem to enjoy a reduced risk of breast cancer. Flavonoid subtypes called flavonols and flavones appear to be particularly helpful. Foods containing flavonols and flavones include onions, broccoli, eggplant, celery, lettuce, peppers, potatoes, tomatoes, apples, oranges, melons, black tea, coffee, chamomile tea, and many aromatic herbs.
Note that the above list mentions black tea, but not green tea. Both come from the same plant, but they undergo different processing. Green tea, which has a unique flavonoid profile, is thought to contribute to the lower incidence of breast cancer in Asian people. According to laboratory studies, green tea flavonoids act in a number of ways to protect against breast cancer. The Minnesota Green Tea Trial, currently in progress, will evaluate how daily consumption of green tea extract for a year might affect markers of breast cancer risk relative to a placebo.
Can I Lower My Risk Of Breast Cancer
There is no sure way to prevent breast cancer. But there are things you can do that might lower your risk. Many risk factors are beyond your control, such as being born female and getting older. But other risk factors can be changed and may lower your risk.
For women who are known to be at increased risk for breast cancer, there are additional steps that might reduce the risk of developing breast cancer.
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Foods And Beverages To Avoid
While certain foods may protect against breast cancer, other foods may increase your risk.
As such, its best to reduce your intake of the following foods and beverages or avoid them altogether:
Summary
To lower your risk of breast cancer, steer clear of refined carbs, added sugar, alcohol, fried foods, processed meats, and fast food.