Is Breast Cancer Preventable?
Breast cancer is a devastating disease. Can it be
prevented? You cannot change some risk factors. You cannot change
the fact that you are getting older which increases your risk, the
start of your first period, or when you start menopause. You also
have no control over your family history and genetic history.
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Although breast cancer isn’t considered
preventable, some of the risk factors can be reduced and
give you a better chance of not developing this disease. If
you are young and still bearing children, you can reduce
your risk of breast cancer by breast-feeding your baby. If
you are beginning menopause, you may want to look into other
ways of coping other than hormonal replacement therapy.
Using birth control pills will also increase your chances of
developing breast cancer.
Get proper screening and do once a month
self-breast exams. In fact, you can make it fun and
interesting if you teach your husband how to do your breast
exam each month. Regular doctor. Early detection is the
best weapon we can use against breast cancer.
Having your children before the age of 30,
breast-feed them, and control your weight gain during
pregnancy, these can reduce breast cancer risks. |
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If you are
menopausal, avoid if possible, the use of long-term hormone
replacement therapy. Limiting your alcohol intake, controlling your
weight, and getting the proper exercise will keep; you healthier
and reduce your risk of breast cancer. The proper diet and
taking care of your body will help prevent this horrible
disease.
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Studies have been conducted that, although
not final, do suggest that Vitamin A may protect against
breast cancer, but more studies are needed before it is
recommended as a prevention of the disease. Other vitamins
such as E and C are being investigated because they carry
high numbers of soy. These tests are also not conclusive,
but are being researched for more information.
Tamoxifen, although not used for prevention
of breast cancer, could be used if you are in a high-risk
group for developing breast cancer. Tamoxifen is mostly
used after breast surgery to prevent breast cancer from
redeveloping. The drug is being tested with a select group
of qualified women to discover if taking this drug will
prevent breast cancer. Tamoxifen has several notable side
effects, although most are not serious. The most common are
hot flashes and vaginal discharge. |
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In rare occasions, Tamoxifen can cause blood clots, stroke, uterine cancer, and
pulmonary embolus. These are life threatening and if you
are taking Tamoxifen, you should be aware of these
potentially dangerous side effects.
It is important to remember that women, who have
high risk factors for developing breast cancer, do not always
develop it. On the other hand, those who have no clear risk
factors can still develop this disease. Keeping your body
healthy, regular self-breast exams, and prescreening can help
reduce the chances of developing this disease. Breast cancer,
if caught early, can be cured and many survivors can attest to
that fact.
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