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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.
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