Breast Cancer Awareness Month: Lifestyle-related risk factors to consider | Mark Mahoney
October is Breast Cancer Awareness Month, an annual campaign to raise awareness about the impact of breast cancer. Other than skin cancer, breast cancer is the most common cancer among American women.
The column today focuses on lifestyle changes (and risk factors) that may lower the risk for breast cancer and provides a brief synopsis. Although there is no sure way to prevent breast cancer there are things you can do that might lower your risk.
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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.
Additional resources are also provided which can be accessed to more fully understand other factors outside of lifestyle-related risk factor as well as local resources.
Six breast cancer facts
In 2022, an estimated 287,500 new cases of invasive breast cancer will be diagnosed in women in the U.S. as well as 51,400 new cases of non-invasive (in situ) breast cancer.
65% of breast cancer cases are diagnosed at a localized stage (there is no sign that the cancer has spread outside of the breast), for which the 5-year relative survival rate is 99%.
This year, an estimated 43,550 women will die from breast cancer in the U.S.
Although rare, men get breast cancer too. In 2022, an estimated 2,710 men will be diagnosed with breast cancer in the U.S. and approximately 530 men will die from breast cancer.
1 in 8 women in the United States will be diagnosed with breast cancer in her lifetime
Breast cancer is the most common cancer in American women, except for skin cancers. It is estimated that in 2022, approximately 30% of all new women cancer diagnoses will be breast cancer.
A risk factor is anything that increases your chances of getting a disease, such as breast cancer. But having a risk factor, or even many, does not mean that you are sure to get the disease.
Certain breast cancer risk factors are related to personal behaviors, such as diet and physical activity. Other lifestyle-related risk factors include decisions about having children and taking medicines that contain hormones.
Three lifestyle-related breast cancer risk factors
Drinking alcohol is clearly linked to an increased risk of breast cancer. The risk increases with the amount of alcohol consumed. One alcoholic drink may increase risk by 7% to 10% while two to three drinks have about a 20% higher risk. It is best not to drink alcohol. Women who do drink should have no more than 1 a day.
Being overweight or obese after menopause increases your breast cancer risk. The American Cancer Society recommends you stay at a healthy weight throughout your life and avoid excess weight gain by balancing your food and drink intake with physical activity.
Evidence is growing that not being physically active increases breast cancer risk, especially in women past menopause. The American Cancer Society recommends that adults get 150 to 300 minutes of moderate intensity or 75 to 150 minutes of vigorous intensity activity each week (or a combination of these). Getting to or going over the upper limit of 300 minutes is ideal.
Other factors
Other areas that may potentially increase the risk of breast cancer include the following: not having children, not breastfeeding, employing birth control methods utilizing hormones, menopausal hormone therapy with estrogen (often combined with progesterone), and breast implants.
Living a healthy lifestyle is within our control and may lower your risk of breast cancer. Maintain a healthy weight, limit alcohol intake and exercise regularly — it all matters when it comes to your health and risk of disease.
Be proactive by educating yourself with science based facts and best practices and join in the cause to help women in need today.
Thanks to the American Cancer Society, National Breast Cancer Foundation and Susan K. Komen as well as Tallahassee Memorial Healthcare for content and additional in-depth information.
Additional information/resources
The National Breast Cancer organization provides a good online resource to educate one’s self with a focus on the following topics relevant for breast cancer. These include the following: overview, early detection, diagnosis, stages, types, treatment, myths FAQs and breast cancer resources.
The most commonly read topics are breast anatomy, treatment & causes of breast cancer. Access this resource at nationalbreastcancer.org/about-breast-cancer
A relevant discussion on lowering risks for breast cancer for all women as well as women at increased risk for breast cancer can be accessed at cancer.org/cancer/breast-cancer/risk-and-prevention
Although no single food or diet can prevent or cause breast cancer a person’s dietary choices can make a difference to their risk of developing breast cancer or their overall well-being while living with the condition. Some general information on diet is available at medicalnewstoday.com
Tallahassee Memorial Healthcare has a website with many varied information and resources at tmh.org/services/cancer/go-pink
Mark Mahoney has been a Registered Dietitian/Nutritionist for over 35 years and completed graduate studies in Public Health at Columbia University. He can be reached at marqos69@hotmail.com.
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This article originally appeared on Tallahassee Democrat: Three risk factors to consider for Breast Cancer Awareness Month
