Ways to Lower Your Breast Cancer Risk

This has been a great month for Breast Cancer Awareness. It seems to me that there are more organizations and businesses proudly waving their pink flag, so to speak, than ever before.  Don’t get me wrong, I’d love to see a lot more.  But what pink strides!

Of course, the entire purpose of Breast Cancer Awareness month is to educate women, and men, on things they can do to lower their risk of ever getting breast cancer.  It’s also a means to educate the public on things they can do if this particular nightmare ever shows up on their doorstep.  I love all of the beautiful, smiling survivors you see in magazines, on websites, on t-shirts… and everywhere else.  These brave fighters are living proof that breast cancer is no longer a dead end.  It’s simply a detour – a particularly tough one, of course.  But the strong, the educated, and the inspired can make the journey with aplomb.  These survivors serve as guides to help and assist others on their journey.  No matter how you look at it, that’s a beautiful thing.

I also love all of the information that’s available.  Those of us who are fortunate to have avoided this visitor are able to learn about things we can do to improve our chances of never receiving a visit.

Below are healthy habits we can all adopt today to attract healthier tomorrows:

• Lose weight. According to Everyday Health, being overweight raises your breast cancer risk after menopause.  Furthermore, consistently gaining weight throughout adulthood also puts you at higher risk.   If you have extra weight, buckle down, get serious, and take it off.
• Throw Watercress into salads, sandwiches, soups, stir fries…. Natural News has a fascinating article explaining how watercress turns off a signal that causes tumors to develop.
• Get Regular Exercise. Experts ALL agree that regular exercise lowers your breast cancer risk.  It also improves your heart’s health, makes you feel and look better, and promotes better mental fitness.   When it comes to preventing breast cancer, however, most women probably aren’t getting as much exercise as they should be.  Truth be told, it’s probably true with most people!  The goal is to aim for around 45 minutes at least 5 days a week.
• Lay Off the Alcohol and Cigarettes. I’m not trying to preach, just giving the facts.  Cigarettes and alcohol increase your odds of getting breast cancer – in addition to many other ailments, I might add!  Okay, that was preach-y.
• Manage Your Stress. Research after research after research prove that stress is woefully unhealthy – mentally as well as physically. If you feel anxious or stressed most of the time, find ways to relax and unwind. Very often, simply realizing how wound up you’ve become can set the unwinding in motion.  It’s not normal to always feel on edge or to always feel on the brink of yelling or crying. It isn’t normal and it isn’t healthy.  If you need to get professional help, don’t hesitate for even a second.  Better to seek help for something now than something worse later.
• Approach Hormone Therapy With Considerable Caution. I’m not a doctor.  I don’t even play one on tv.  So, I’m leery of approaching this subject in depth.  Research shows a link between hormone therapy and breast cancer.  A strong link. Don’t just take hormone therapy because your doctor says that’s what you have to do!  If you aren’t having severe menopause symptoms, you might want to consider bypassing hormone therapy.  In any case, read up on it.
• Eat Healthy! Finally, you HAVE to check out the Anti-Cancer Diet put together by Everyday Health.  These foods (which include garlic, turmeric, green tea, tomatoes…) can protect you from a host of cancers, including breast cancer.  Watch the slide show and write down your new favorite foods.