Breast Cancer 101

But here is another statistic — up to 98 percent of women who detect breast cancer early on survive at least five years or more. This confirms what health care providers have known all along — early detection saves lives.

Women who detect breast cancer early and make lifestyle changes to lower their cancer risk in general can reduce their chances of becoming yet another statistic.

Know Your Breasts

Early breast cancer has few, if any, symptoms. The tumors are not necessarily painful, and there are not always visible signs.  Becoming familiar with your breasts — what they look like and how they feel — will help you notice any irregularities, such as puckering or dimpling of the skin, unusual nipple discharge, or unusual lumps.

For women 20 and older, the American Cancer Society recommends clinical breast exams, performed by a trained health care provider, once every three years, and then yearly after age 40. Many women already receive clinical breast exams as a regular part of their annual exams. (Planned Parenthood alone performs more than 844,000 clinical breast exams each year.) Women 40 and over should begin having annual or biannual mammograms, which are special x-rays of the breasts.  For women with a hereditary risk for breast cancer, breast ultrasounds or MRIs may also be useful.

An Ounce of Prevention

Even though the primary risk factor for breast cancer is being a woman, there are other risk factors related to lifestyle. There is no foolproof way to prevent breast cancer, but there are ways for every woman to manage her risks:

1.  Maintain a Healthy Weight

Studies show that weight gain, especially for postmenopausal women, is associated with an increased risk of breast cancer. A great deal of estrogen is produced in fat tissue, and higher estrogen levels are associated with a higher risk of developing breast cancer. An American Cancer Society study also found that overweight women are up to two times more likely to die from breast cancer than women who are not overweight.

2.  Exercise

For teens and young women, exercising just four hours per week can lower the lifetime breast cancer risk by 60 percent.  Women 30 and older who exercise three to four hours per week gain similar benefits. Cardiovascular exercise also strengthens a body’s overall immune system, increasing the body’s ability to fight tumors early on.

Exercise is an overall boon to a woman’s health. In addition to reducing the risk of breast cancer, exercise can lower the risk of life-threatening diseases like diabetes, heart disease, and obesity.

3.  Drink in Moderation

Alcohol consumption may increase the risk of breast cancer by increasing the amount of estrogen in the blood. Some studies suggest that even one drink a day increases a woman's risk for breast cancer by 10 percent, while other research concludes that two to three drinks per day are necessary to significantly increase a woman's risk.

4.  Stop Smoking

Although studies have not shown a direct link between smoking and breast cancer for all women, some data suggest that smoking might increase the risk of breast cancer.

5.  Discuss Hormone Therapy with Your Health Care Provider

Women considering hormone therapy (HT) to manage the symptoms of menopause should be aware that, after three to five years of use, HT may increase the risk of invasive breast cancer. The longer a woman is on HT, the greater her risk.  Women should speak to their health care providers about the benefits and risks of HT, and may want to discuss alternative therapies. If a woman chooses HT, it should be used at the lowest effective dose and for the shortest period of time.

Myths and Misconceptions

Many things have not been proven to increase a woman’s risk of breast cancer, like antiperspirants and underwire. The most recent research suggests that the pill has little, if any, effect. And both the National Cancer Institute and the American Cancer Society agree that there is no increased risk of breast cancer for women who have had an abortion. Studies also indicate that, although silicone breast implants may cause scar tissue and other problems, implants are not related to an increase in breast cancer.

Remember, healthy living and early detection save lives. Tell your mothers, daughters, sisters, aunts, nieces, and friends.