Breast Cancer be Prevented

Pure breast health information - Breast Cancer be Prevented. Can breast cancer be prevented? Finding breast cancer early, Lowering your risk breast cancer, For women who are or may be at increased risk, Genetic testing for BRCA gene mutations. There is no sure way to prevent breast cancer. But there are things all women can do that might reduce their risk and help increase the odds that if cancer does occur, it is found at an early, more treatable stage. Pure breast health information - Breast Cancer be Prevented. (more : Knowing What Causes Breast Cancer - Breast implants Bras Induced abortion Bras Antiperspirants)


Lowering your risk breast cancer
You can lower your risk of breast cancer by changing those risk factors that can be changed (see the section, "What are the risk factors for breast cancer?"). Women who limit alcohol intake, exercise regularly, and maintain a healthy body weight have a lower risk of getting breast cancer. Women who choose to breast-feed for at least several months may also get an added benefit of reducing their breast cancer risk.

Not using hormone therapy after menopause can help you avoid raising your risk. It’s not clear at this time if environmental chemicals that have estrogen-like properties (like those found in some plastic bottles or certain cosmetics and personal care products) increase breast cancer risk. If there is an increased risk, it is likely to be very small. Still, women who are concerned may choose to avoid products that contain these substances
when possible.

Finding breast cancer early
Other than lifestyle changes, the most important action a woman can take is to follow early detection guidelines. Following the American Cancer Society's guidelines for early detection (outlined in the section, "Can breast cancer be found early?") will not prevent breast cancer, but it can help find cancers when the likelihood of successful treatment is greatest.

For women who are or may be at increased risk
If you are a woman at increased risk for breast cancer (for example, because you have a strong family history of breast cancer, a known genetic mutation of a BRCA gene, or you have had DCIS, LCIS, or biopsies that have shown pre-cancerous changes), there may be some things you can do to reduce your chances of developing breast cancer. Before deciding which, if any, of these may be right for you, talk with your doctor to understand what your risk is and how much any of these approaches might lower this risk.

Genetic testing for BRCA gene mutations
Many women may have relatives with breast cancer, but in most cases this is not the result of BRCA gene mutations. Genetic testing for these mutations can be expensive and the results are often not clear cut. Testing can have a wide range of consequences that need to be considered. It should only be done when there is a reasonable suspicion that a mutation may be present.

The U.S. Preventive Services Task Force (USPSTF) recommends that only women with a strong family history be evaluated for genetic testing for BRCA mutations. This group represents only about 2% of adult women in the United States. The USPSTF recommends that women who are not of Ashkenazi (Eastern European) Jewish heritage should be referred for genetic evaluation if they have any of the following :

· 2 first-degree relatives (mother, sisters, daughters) with breast cancer, one of whom was diagnosed when they were younger than 50
· 3 or more first- or second-degree relatives (includes grandmothers, aunts) diagnosed with breast cancer
· Both breast and ovarian cancer among first- and second-degree relatives
· A first-degree relative diagnosed with cancer in both breasts
· 2 or more first- or second-degree relatives diagnosed with ovarian cancer
· A male relative with breast cancer. Women of Ashkenazi (Eastern European) Jewish heritage should be referred for genetic evaluation if they have : - A first-degree relative with breast or ovarian cancer - 2 second-degree relatives on the same side of the family with breast or ovarian cancer

If you are considering genetic testing, it is strongly recommended that you talk first to a genetic counselor, nurse, or doctor qualified to explain and interpret the results of these tests. It is very important to understand what genetic testing can and can't tell you, and to carefully weigh the benefits and risks of testing before these tests are done. Testing is expensive and may not be covered by some health insurance plans.

For more information, see our document, Genetic Testing: What You Need to Know. You may also want to visit the National Cancer Institute web site (www.cancer.gov/cancertopics/Genetic-Testing-for-Breast-and-Ovarian-Cancer-Risk).