Cancer Experts: Everyday Changes Protect Against Breast Cancer

Main Category: Breast Cancer
Also Included In: Cancer / Oncology
Article Date: 07 Oct 2008 - 3:00 PDT

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October is National Breast Cancer Awareness Month and the American Institute for Cancer Research (AICR) is dedicated to providing free information to help women learn about their risks and take action to lower them.

Apart from skin cancer, breast cancer is the most common form of cancer among American women, with over 170,000 cases diagnosed last year alone. But when it is caught before spreading to lymph nodes or other tissue, the five-year survival rate now stands at 98 percent.

Decrease Your Risk

Along with age and family history, diet and physical activity are important risk factors for breast cancer. And cancer experts say it's important to focus on the factors you can control.

"We know that for breast cancer that develops after menopause -- which is by far the most common type -- maintaining a healthy weight and avoiding weight gain, being physically active every day, and limiting or avoiding alcohol, all seem to lower risk substantially," explains AICR Nutrition Advisor Karen Collins, MS, RD.

AICR's second expert report, Food, Nutrition, Physical Activity, and the Prevention of Cancer: a Global Perspective, found that several everyday choices can protect against breast cancer, including:

- Maintaining a healthy weight with low body fat. There is convincing evidence that excess body fat is a cause of postmenopausal breast cancer, especially weight gained in adulthood and around your waist. Choosing a plant-based diet can help you maintain a healthy weight and lower your risk of breast cancer.

- Getting regular physical activity. Take a morning walk or a bike ride in the evening -- even gardening counts, as long you're active for at least 30 minutes a day. According to research, keeping active probably protects against postmenopausal breast cancer.

- Limiting your intake of alcoholic beverages. There is convincing scientific evidence that alcohol is a cause of breast and other cancers. That's why AICR recommends that women keep to one drink a day, if they drink at all.

-Breastfeeding- New mothers take note: There is now convincing evidence that breastfeeding protects against both pre-and postmenopausal breast cancer. Hormonal changes, physical changes in breast tissue cells and shedding of breast tissues may all be responsible for the decrease in risk that has been documented in many studies.

What about the millions of women who are breast cancer survivors? The science is still catching up to them, according to Collins.

"Many breast cancer survivors want to know how they can lower their risk of recurrence," she says. "Research is actively seeking more answers, and so far it looks as thought weight control and daily physical activity will be key parts of that answer."

Early Detection Saves Lives

Here are a few steps to take this month-- and year-round--to protect yourself or tell the women you know:

- Conduct a Breast Self-Exam (BSE) each month.
- Get a Clinical Breast Exam (CBE) from a trained health professional.
- Get a mammogram.

AICR Provides Many Free Breast Cancer Resources, including:

- Reducing Your Risk of Breast Cancer provides a quick overview of risks, detection tips and frequently asked questions about breast cancer and breast health.

- Questions and Answers about Breast Health and Breast Cancer is a brochure that provides in-depth answers to commonly asked questions about breast cancer prevention, treatment and survival.

- What You Should Know About Breastfeeding offers comprehensive information about breastfeeding and lowering your risk of breast cancer as well as health benefits for you and your child.

- Breast Self Examination Shower Card - This waterproof card illustrates how to perform a monthly self-exam and features a hole-punch for each month to ensure regular self-exams are remembered.

- Breast Self-Exam Sticker Package - This package includes an instruction card and stickers to put on a calendar to serve as a reminder.

- CancerResource: Breast Cancer - AICR offers a free information kit to help those newly diagnosed with breast cancer. CancerResource answers basic questions arising from a cancer diagnosis, including what to ask your doctor, treatments and side effects, and definitions of common terms. CancerResource also provides information on other available resources.

Raising Awareness

Want to raise breast cancer awareness in your workplace, and support cancer research at the same time? Visit AICR's just-launched Pink on Purpose web page to find out how you can organize a fun and informative event for a great cause. Visit http://www.aicr.org/pinkonpurpose.

For these and other useful cancer resources, visit http://www.aicr.org for free PDF versions of brochures. Single copies of brochures and health aids can be ordered for free by calling 1-800-843-8114 extension 472, Monday through Friday, 9 a.m. to 5 p.m. ET.

The American Institute for Cancer Research (AICR) is the cancer charity that fosters research on the relationship of nutrition, physical activity and weight management to cancer risk, interprets the scientific literature and educates the public about the results. It has contributed more than $86 million for innovative research conducted at universities, hospitals and research centers across the country. AICR has published two landmark reports that interpret the accumulated research in the field, and is committed to a process of continuous review. AICR also provides a wide range of educational programs to help millions of Americans learn to make dietary changes for lower cancer risk. Its award-winning New American Plate program is presented in brochures, seminars and on its website, http://www.aicr.org. AICR is a member of the World Cancer Research Fund International.

American Institute for Cancer Research