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Lifestyle and environmental risk factors for breast cancer are still an area of active research and many have been identified. Lucky for most people, all of these risks are controlled simply by making proper changes to optimize one’s health. Even men can get breast caner, though it occurs at 1/133 the rate of women.
Women who have had no children prior to age 30 are at a slightly higher risk. The cause of the increase is likely to be twofold: the number of menstrual periods experienced and the related factor of the amount of estrogen in the body. Hormones, particularly estrogen and progesterone, play a role in cell growth and cancer is a condition in which cells grow in abnormal shapes and numbers.
Having had multiple pregnancies prior to the age of thirty reduces an individual’s risk of contracting breast cancer. Pregnancy itself carries its own risks even in the modern medical settings offered today. Using this method to offset the risk of breast cancer is not recommended. But, if you intend to bear children, it should be comforting to know about this side benefit.
The risk of cancer from taking oral contraceptives has yet to be determined. Women who have stopped using birth control for more than ten years show no increased risk. Because most women who contract breast cancer don’t do so until their 50’s or later, it is hard to isolate the contribution.
Diet has been determined to be a more direct contributor. But since research is still ongoing no conclusive evidence exists to prove anything. What is known is that maintaining a healthy diet in general is a factor. Because of the ability of fat cells to store estrogen obesity definitely raises the risk of breast cancer. Fat cells are also responsible for producing a small amount of estrogen on their own even though most estrogen in the body is generated by the ovaries.
The exact contribution of an individual’s diet has yet to be determined. It was popular for a time period for people to claim that a high fiber diet acted almost as a preventative. The research, however, does not support that notion rather it has determined that a high fiber diet is healthy for many reasons. Even if diet cannot prevent the onset of breast cancer, having good health in general is extremely important and helpful when it comes to having to get any type of treatment and diet is a significant part of that effort.
In addition to diet, utilizing age and body type appropriate exercise methods will contribute to an individuals overall health. Simply spending an hour a day doing moderate activity is a major benefit. It keeps the muscles tone and the body in overall good shape. The amount of exercise needed to reduce the risk of breast cancer is unknown. One study was able to correlate a 1-2 hour brisk walk per week with an 18% lower risk.
Unbelievably, there are many factors that are commonly believed to increase the risk of breast cancer. These risks are not supported by contemporary research finings according to the American Cancer Society. Smoking is one of the risks. No link has been made between cigarette smoking and breast cancer. Lung cancer however, is a completely different story. In general, no environmental pollutants have been deemed to cause breast cancer.
Because these lifestyle choices are not healthy, the goal of maintaining good health and well-being should strongly weigh against them.
Consuming alcohol in moderation has been determined to be healthy. Using alcohol heavily has been correlated with an increased risk of contracting breast cancer. The risk increases by about 10% for every daily hard alcohol drink one consumes. Because it also damages the liver it is contributing to overall poor health. Drinking heavily therefore is an unsafe and unwise decision.
Maintain a good attitude and a good health program and your odds of breast cancer will be as low as you can make them.
