Every October Breast Cancer Awareness Month is observed in countries across the world, to help increase attention and support for the awareness, early detection and treatment as well as palliative care of this disease. Breast cancer is the second most common kind of cancer in women. About 1 in 8 women born today in the United States will get breast cancer at some point. While most women who get breast cancer have no known risk factors and no history of the disease in their families, most women can survive breast cancer if it’s found and treated early.
Here are three ways to reduce your risk of breast cancer:
Lifestyle links
Even if you have a high risk of breast cancer you can help protect yourself by living a healthy lifestyle. This includes limiting alcohol, not smoking, keeping your weight in a healthy range and staying physically active.
Family ties
Having certain genes or close blood relatives with breast cancer increases your risk of contracting the disease. If you do have a family history of breast cancer, it’s important to talk to your doctor about steps for prevention and early detection.
Screen time
If breast cancer is detected early, the survival rate is excellent. So, it’s critical to know your family history and other risk factors. Talk to your doctor about which breast cancer screening tests are right for you and when you should have them.
