Is Breast Cancer
Preventable?
Breast cancer is a devastating disease. Can it be
prevented? You cannot change some risk factors. You cannot change
the fact that you are getting older which increases your risk, the
start of your first period, or when you start menopause. You also
have no control over your family history and genetic history.
Although breast cancer isn't considered preventable, some of the
risk factors can be reduced and give you a better chance of not
developing this disease. If you are young and still bearing
children, you can reduce your risk of breast cancer by
breast-feeding your baby. If you are beginning
menopause, you may want to look into other ways of
coping other than hormonal replacement therapy. Using birth control
pills will also increase your chances of developing breast
cancer.
Get proper screening and do once a month self-breast exams. In
fact, you can make it fun and interesting if you teach your husband
how to do your breast exam each month. Regular doctor. Early
detection is the best weapon we can use against breast cancer.
Having your children before the age of 30, breast-feed them, and
control your weight gain during pregnancy, these can reduce breast
cancer risks. If you are menopausal, avoid if possible, the use of
long-term hormone replacement therapy.
Limiting your alcohol intake, controlling your weight, and getting
the proper exercise will keep; you healthier and reduce your risk
of breast cancer. The proper diet and taking care of your body will
help prevent this horrible disease.
Studies have been conducted that, although not final, do suggest
that Vitamin A may protect against breast cancer, but more studies
are needed before it is recommended as a prevention of the disease.
Other vitamins such as E and C are being investigated because they
carry high numbers of soy. These tests are also not conclusive, but
are being researched for more information.
Tamoxifen, although not used for prevention of breast cancer,
could be used if you are in a high-risk group for developing breast
cancer. Tamoxifen is mostly used after breast surgery to prevent
breast cancer from redeveloping. The drug is being tested with a
select group of qualified women to discover if taking this drug
will prevent breast cancer. Tamoxifen has several notable side
effects, although most are not serious. The most common are hot
flashes and vaginal discharge. In rare occasions, Tamoxifen can
cause blood clots, stroke, uterine cancer, and pulmonary embolus.
These are life threatening and if you are taking Tamoxifen, you
should be aware of these potentially dangerous side effects.
It is important to remember that women, who have high risk factors
for developing breast cancer, do not always develop it. On the
other hand, those who have no clear risk factors can still develop
this disease. Keeping your body healthy, regular self-breast exams,
and prescreening can help reduce the chances of developing this
disease. Breast cancer, if caught early, can be cured and many
survivors can attest to that fact.
Breast Surgery and the
Side Effects
If your doctor recommends surgery for treatment of breast cancer,
you have the option to ask questions before you have the procedure.
You will want to know which surgery your doctor recommends, how
long will your stay in the hospital be, and is a...
Life
Style Changes to Prevent Breast Cancer
You can reduce your risk of breast cancer by changing specific
items in the way you live your life. One of the biggest factors
that you can control is your weight. The risk increase if you have
gained weight after menopause or are carrying the...
National
Breast Cancer Awareness Month
For more than twenty years, October has been National Breast Cancer
Awareness Month. Its purpose is to educate women about early cancer
detection, diagnosis, and treatments for breast cancer. This month
is used to stress the importance of early...
The Signs and
Stages of Breast Cancer
Breast cancer doesn't always give us early signs and warnings. That
is why it is so important to do regular breast self-exams, and get
professional screening. If you have high risk factors, it is even
more important to have regular breast...
Is Breast
Reconstruction an Option For You?
Women who are facing a radical mastectomy may also be looking for a
plastic surgeon for reconstruction surgery. The breast is an
intimate part of a woman's self-esteem and the decision on whether
to have reconstruction surgery is an important one. ...
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