Breast Cancer Prevention: What To Do? Lifestyle and Exams

. Epidemiological studies have shown that breast cancer is more common in the female population over the age of 50.

Family history of breast cancer. Clinical research has shown that women who come from families in which this neoplasm is recurrent (that is, which has already affected other members of the family) are more at risk of breast cancer.

Heredity for breast cancer. For several years now, cancer medicine has discovered that the presence of some hereditary and heritable mutations in genes such as BRCA1 and BRCA2 predispose to breast cancer (and other cancers, such as breast cancer). of the ovary).

The early onset of menstruation combined with the late onset of menopause. It emerged that, probably due to hormonal reasons, women who had their first menstruation before the age of 12 and who entered menopause after the age of 55 are more likely to get breast cancer.

Dense breasts. Doctors define dense a breast in which the share of glandular and connective tissue is preponderant, compared to the adipose component.
Clinical studies suggest that women with dense breasts are more likely to develop breast cancer.

The presence, in the past, of other breast neoplasms, both benign and malignant.

L "having undergone radiation therapy in the chest area in the past. Women who, at a young age, required radiation therapy to treat tumors in the chest area (eg: Hodgkin's tumor) are more at risk of developing cancer in the chest area. old age.

Obesity and sedentary lifestyle. Obese women of advanced age are particularly at risk.

Hormonal therapies adopted after menopause. These therapies appear to be dangerous in the context of breast cancer when they last for more than 5 years.

Alcohol abuse: Studies have shown that women who abuse alcohol develop breast cancer more frequently.

Cigarette smoke. Smoking promotes the onset of a large number of malignant tumors, including that of the breast.

As the reader can note, among the risk factors mentioned above there are non-modifiable ones, such as age, dense breasts or familiarity with breast cancer, and modifiable ones, such as obesity, sedentary lifestyle or abuse. of alcoholic substances.
Clearly, breast cancer prevention relies, to a large extent, on "targeted action against modifiable risk factors.

Before analyzing the various aspects of breast cancer prevention, it should also be noted that clinical investigations have recorded cases of breast cancer not associated with any of the factors listed above and people who, although falling into one or even more of the aforementioned categories, they have never developed any breast cancer during their lifetime.
Currently, the reason for all this remains a question mark, an unresolved issue that experts still need to fully understand.

o obesity, alcohol abuse, cigarette smoking and postmenopausal hormonal therapies that are excessively protracted over time.

In practical terms, what has just been indicated translates into:

• Healthy and balanced diet;
• Regular physical activity;
• Limit or avoid the consumption of alcoholic substances;
• Avoid cigarette smoke, including exposure to secondhand smoke;
• Limit the use of postmenopausal hormone therapy to the bare essentials.