Breast cancer can be treated in the initial stage but at the advanced stage, it becomes complicated and fatal. Several women fall prey to this disease every year; some are cured while others lose their life especially if cancer is detected in the last stage. Hence, it is better to be aware and take some precautions to prevent breast cancer risk.
Lifestyle changes to prevent breast cancer risk
Maintain a healthy weight:
You do not need to be slim but you have to maintain a healthy weight in order to avoid certain types of cancer. Obesity or overweight can lead to breast cancer and several other types of cancer, especially post-menopause.
Avoid smoking and drinking:
Both smoking and drinking lower the quality of your health and give rise to several types of cancers including breast cancer. Hence, avoid or quit such habits at the earliest.
Breastfeed your child for at least one or more years:
Modern, working moms find it very difficult to breastfeed their children for a longer time. However, breastfeeding for 1+year relaxes the nerves, improves blood circulation, avoids breast clots, etc., due to which it reduces the risk of breast cancer. Moreover, breastfeeding benefits your child’s health in numerous ways!
Minimize the consumption of birth control pills:
Younger women can cope up with the side effects of birth control pills. However, women beyond the age of 35 years especially those who smoke and consume contraceptive pills regularly are at a higher risk of breast cancer as compared to other women who don’t.
Preventative measures for breast cancer
1. The life-saving screening:
In order to detect breast cancer among women, a special screening of breast is done known as mammography. It certainly does not help to cure breast cancer but it is one of the best preventative measures to prevent breast cancer risk as it can detect cancer at an early stage. After the age of 40 years, regular mammography sessions should be done. Women between the age group of 40-44 yrs and over 55 yrs should do it every alternate year while women between 45-54 should do it at least once a year.
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2. Breast cancer prevention medicines or surgery:
In case you have a family history that will lead you to breast cancer in the future, you can consume medications to reduce the risk of breast cancer. This should only be done on doctor’s advice only. You also have the option of prophylactic surgery, which is very effective in the prevention or lowering the risk of cancer in a particular organ or gland.
Natural foods that help in the prevention of breast cancer
In search of the most effective medicines, we often forget that food is the best medicine! Apart from lifestyle changes and preventative measures, you can consume these foods to prevent breast cancer risk.
Vegetables
Dark Green leafy vegetables:
Leafy vegetables, which are dark green in color, are rich in antioxidants, which can help prevent cancer. Hence, consuming vegetables like Kale, Spinach, Turnip, beet greens, collard, etc., will aid in preventing breast cancer.
Cruciferous rich vegetables:
Cruciferous vegetables are generally rich in fiber, vitamin C, K, and E and also anti-oxidants. But the best part is these vegetables contain cancer-fighting chemicals called glucosinolates. Therefore, consuming cabbage, arugula, broccoli, cauliflower, etc., can keep you away from breast cancer.
Fruits
Peaches and plumps:
These fruits contain polyphenols, which prevent the growth of breast cancer cells in the body. Studies have also shown that polyphenols target all the cancer cells in the body and kill them.
The berry magic:
Black raspberries, strawberries, blueberries, are rich in antioxidants, polyphenols, and have anti-cancer properties due to which it can help you prevent breast cancer.
Apigenin:
It is an antioxidant that prevents the growth of breast cancer cells known as HER2. Celery, peppermint, licorice, spinach, etc., are some apigenin rich food. While carotenoids can be found in orange, red, yellow, and dark green fruits and vegetables like kale, apricots, carrots, and tomatoes, etc. These foods are rich in lycopene, vitamin A, beta-carotene, and lutein that aid in fighting free radicals, which further turn into cancer cells.
Garlic:
It belongs to the allium vegetable family and is far more useful than its flavor. A 2017 research has found that garlic has very positive and effective effects on estrogens dependent as well as estrogens non-dependent breast cancer.
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Ref: https://siteman.wustl.edu/prevention/take-proactive-control/8-ways-to-prevent-breast-cancer/
