Breast Cancer: You CAN Reduce Your Risk!
As with all things health, an ounce of prevention is worth a pound of cure. While you can’t change risk factors like family history or genetics, there are things you can do today to lower your risk of breast cancer later on in life.
Lifestyle changes
One way to reduce your risk of breast cancer – and many other cancers – is to keep your whole body healthy. Here are just a few ways to improve your health holistically.
- Limit your alcohol intake. Drinking alcohol is associated with a higher risk of breast cancer. It is safest not to drink any alcohol, as even small amounts are associated with higher rates of breast cancer. If you’re unwilling to eliminate alcohol, reducing how much you drink can make a difference. The Mayo Clinic recommends that women have no more than one drink per day.
- If you smoke, quit! Smoking is known for increasing the likelihood of lung cancer, but it also has an association with breast cancer. If you need help quitting, talk to a healthcare provider.
- Maintain a healthy weight. Ask your healthcare provider if you are at a healthy weight. If you are not, work with your healthcare team to develop a long-term plan to lose excess weight through good nutrition and exercise.
- Stay active. Physical activity is associated with lower rates of cancer diagnoses. Try to get at least 2.5 hours of moderate exercise per week.
- Breastfeed. There is some evidence that women who breastfeed experience lower rates of breast cancer diagnoses. If you have a baby, consider breastfeeding. It’s also good for baby!
Medical interventions
- Regular breast exams are key in early breast cancer detection. These may be done yearly by your gynecologist or by a primary care provider.
- Mammograms as recommended by a provider are another method for breast cancer detection. Most people should start getting mammograms at age 45, but your provider may recommend you start earlier if you have certain risk factors.
- Avoid unnecessary use of hormones. Many women use hormone therapy after menopause, and most women use hormonal birth control at some point in their lives. These treatments are associated with slightly higher rates of breast cancer, so talk with your healthcare provider to carefully evaluate the risks and benefits prior to using these drugs.
- Consider genetic testing, especially if you have a family history of breast cancer. Certain genes – most notably the BRCA gene – heighten your risk of developing cancer. If testing shows you have this gene, your provider may recommend more aggressive preventative care.
Naturopathic interventions
In addition to lifestyle changes, there are many naturopathic and holistic ways to reduce your risk for breast cancer.
- Antioxidants reduce overall risk of cancer by neutralizing free radicals, an unstable byproduct of your cells’ energy production that can cause cell damage. Antioxidants find free radical molecules and neutralize them.
- Soy products have gotten a reputation for causing breast cancer due to the phytoestrogens they contain, but this is a myth. The reality is actually the opposite: studies show that soy is high in isoflavones, a type of compound shown to reduce breast cancer risk by over 25%.
- Seeds, nuts, and legumes also contain cancer-preventing compounds called lignans. Lignans are associated with an almost 30% reduction in breast cancer.
For those already fighting breast cancer, naturopathic care can reduce the unpleasant effects of chemotherapy and address the psychological effects of battling cancer. When used to complement medical chemotherapy and radiation treatments, naturopathic and holistic approaches greatly improve quality of life for many patients.
If you are interested in learning more about natural breast cancer prevention, or are fighting breast cancer and would like to explore naturopathic options to complement your medical treatment, give ProNatural Wellness a call at (860) 829-0707 to make an appointment.
Sources: American Cancer Society, Mayo Clinic, Johns Hopkins Medicine, Institute for Natural Medicine
