The month of October has been labeled “Pink Month” as part of a global campaign to increase awareness of breast cancer. Pink Month is dedicated to spreading awareness of the condition, its early detection, prevention, and the symptoms that go along with it.
Globally, breast cancer risks the lives of about 500,000 women each year. The majority of breast cancer patients in areas with limited resources receive their diagnosis late, which has a negative impact on survival rates.
90% of early-stage breast cancers are treatable, frequently with therapies that conserve the breast.
For that purpose, self-examination is very crucial. For any early indicators, women should visit their doctor once a month, and must have mammography occasionally.
The following article details some simple and effective measures you can take right now to reduce your risk of developing breast cancer.
How to Prevent Breast Cancer? Lower Your Risk!
As with most chronic diseases, the risk of developing breast cancer can be reduced through lifestyle changes and precautionary measures.
Recent statistics show that in 2018, 266,120 cases of invasive and noninvasive breast cancers were diagnosed among women in the United States alone. According to the American Cancer Society, this number is expected to increase by almost 40% in the next 10 years.
There are many natural ways that help in breast cancer prevention. Various risk factors have been identified as primary causes of an increased risk.
1. Eat Healthy and Exercise Regularly:
There are many different types of breast cancer and each type has its own set of risk factors. For example, the most common form of breast cancer is estrogen receptor-positive and progesterone receptor-negative. This means it is stimulated by estrogen but not progesterone.
The main risk factor for estrogen receptor-positive breast cancer is obesity. A healthy diet and regular exercise can decrease the risk of developing breast cancer by as much as 30%.
Quality foods that contain a lot of fibre, vitamins, and minerals will help build your immune system, improve digestion and lower your risk of developing heart disease.
Additionally, regular exercise can lower the risk of developing breast cancer by reducing your body’s levels of estrogen and increasing progesterone.
2. Watch Your Weight:
Obesity has been identified as one of the primary risk factors for developing breast cancer. The risk of breast cancer appears to be related to your body’s estrogen levels. As a person gains weight, estrogen levels increase. This can lead to an increased risk of breast cancer.
A healthy diet and regular exercise can help keep your estrogen levels in control. For example, vegetables like broccoli and cauliflower are rich in indoles, which can help to prevent the formation of estrogen in the body. Reducing your overall body fat and maintaining a healthy weight can lower your risk of developing breast cancer.
3. Protect Yourself from the Sun:
The role of sunlight in the development of skin cancer has been well-documented. In recent years, it has also been suggested that the sun’s ultraviolet (UV) radiation may increase the risk of developing breast cancer, especially if you are over the age of 40 years.
The risk of developing breast cancer has been linked to a higher frequency of sunburns as a teenager, which is associated with an increased risk of developing breast cancer. Wearing sunscreen with an SPF of at least 30 and covering up with clothing and a hat when in the sun can help in breast cancer prevention.
4. Stay Away from Carcinogens:
Cosmetics, shampoos, and deodorants can contain chemicals or ingredients that can be harmful to your health. The potential risks of these ingredients are still being debated and require more research.
What is certain, however, is that the more you expose your skin and body to harmful chemicals and carcinogens, the greater your risk of developing breast cancer will become. Avoiding cosmetics and shampoos that contain harmful ingredients can go a long way in lowering your risk of developing breast cancer.
5. Maintain a Healthy Gut:
The microbiome, or the bacteria in our bodies, has been shown to play a vital role in protecting us against a range of diseases and ailments. Recent research suggests that the gut microbiome may have an important effect on breast cancer risk.
It’s believed that certain gut bacteria may help to block the production of estrogen, thereby preventing the development of breast cancer. On the other hand, the wrong bacteria may instead increase the production of estrogen and increase the risk of developing breast cancer.
6. Don’t Delay Pregnancy and Breastfeeding:
There is no conclusive evidence that breastfeeding affects the risk of breast cancer, but it has been shown that breastfeeding during pregnancy can reduce the risk of ovarian and breast cancer in the mother.
Breastfeeding has many health benefits for both the mother and child. Therefore, a reduction in your risk of developing breast cancer later in life is just one more positive aspect of breastfeeding.
Breast Cancer Symptoms:
Symptoms of breast cancer vary among women. Some common early warning signs and symptoms of breast cancer include;
- A lump or a hard mass in the Breast or Underarm
- Swelling of Breast
- Irritated Skin
- Nipple or Breast Pain
- Red, Flaky, and Dry Breast Skin
- Unusual Nipple Discharge
- Lymph nodes under the arm or close to the collarbone that is swollen (Sometimes this can be a sign of breast cancer spread even before the original tumor in the breast is large enough to be felt.)
Breast Cancer in Elderly Women:
According to research, over 50% of breast cancer patients are 65 years of age or older, and about 30% are over 70.
Compared to younger patients, who are frequently diagnosed (61.6%) with stage I cancer, adults 80 years of age and older are usually given a stage II or stage III diagnosis (39.2%).
Individualized treatments are done based on the patient’s overall health. Self-examination is very important for the early detection of the disease. So, if you feel any of the symptoms of breast cancer, you should immediately talk to your doctor.
How to Care for Breast Cancer Patients at Home?
Getting diagnosed with cancer is stressing itself while the treatment, therapies, and pain are add-ons to it. Taking care of a cancer patient is very crucial as well as challenging for the live-in caregiver. It requires lots of knowledge of the disease and how to manage the symptoms in order to provide necessary cancer disease care to the patient.
Here are some top caregiver responsibilities for a cancer patient:
- Personal care (bathing, grooming, etc.)
- Managing the sleep schedule to let the body relax and make new healthy cells
- Taking care of the medication and appointments
- Help in exercising
- Managing stress levels
- Fostering positive relationships
- Managing the weight and nutritional balance
We at Considracare, provide home care for seniors in Ontario. We have qualified and experienced live-in caregivers to provide personal care assistance to seniors.
Breast Cancer Prevention-Takeaway:
Breast cancer is still one of the leading causes of death among women, but living a healthy lifestyle can help to prevent it.
Eating a healthy diet, staying active, and avoiding carcinogens can go a long way in lowering your risk of developing breast cancer. If you have any questions about breast cancer prevention, be sure to speak with your doctor.
Additionally, based on your medical history, ask your doctor when to start mammograms and other screenings.
If your elderly loved one has been diagnosed with breast cancer, make sure to get specialized senior home care to improve their quality of life.
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