October is Breast Cancer Awareness Month, a time to remind ourselves and the people in our lives that breast cancer is an issue that touches us all. One in eight women in the United States will be diagnosed with breast cancer during their lifetime, so chances are that we will know someone who is impacted by this disease. Here are a few more statistics:
- 80% of women diagnosed with breast cancer don’t have a family history of the disease.
- Having a close relative (mother, grandmother, sister) with the disease more than doubles the risk.
- While non-Hispanic white women have higher rates of breast cancer overall, African-American women have a higher incident rate before age 40 and are more likely to die from breast cancer at every age.
- At Planned Parenthood of the Pacific Southwest, we diagnose 12-15 cases of breast cancer annually.
There’s a lot of misinformation about what causes breast cancer, so we’d like to offer a few things you need to know.
What causes breast cancer?
Cancer grows when the DNA in a cell is damaged. This is caused by genetics or environment, often a combination of the two. The good news is that people can be tested for genetic predisposition to breast cancer. And we know more than ever before about environmental factors that play a role in breast cancer.
You already know this, but humor us and listen up.
Don’t smoke or drink excessively. Eat your veggies, exercise, and maintain a healthy weight. Get enough sleep, maintain a positive attitude, and call you mom (she misses you). Okay, that last one may not be entirely scientific — or have anything to do with breast cancer — but the rest are good, old-fashioned, common sense ways to protect your breast health. Frankly, these are sound tips for your heart, liver, and lung health too!
Eat chocolate!
Now that our Mama Bear lecture is over, here’s a treat: Researchers have recently discovered that a compound in dark chocolate may fight fast-growing cancer cells. Enjoy a yummy square, but don’t go overboard. Part of staving off breast cancer is keeping an eye on sugar consumption and weight.
Breastfeed your baby!
If you choose to become a mother, you can reduce your risk of breast cancer slightly by breastfeeding your baby. It’s not a huge factor, so don’t panic if parenting isn’t your thing. But if you’re weighing the pros and cons of breastfeeding, here’s one for the plus side.
What does not cause breast cancer?
We’ve all heard the dire warnings about plastic water bottles, underwire bras, breast implants, deodorants and antiperspirants, cell phones, microwaves, and even coffee potentially causing breast cancer! The good news is that these are myths. If you love your magical crystal deodorant stone, by all means keep it. But if you prefer an antiperspirant stick, head on out to buy a new one — and pick up a pumpkin latte while you’re at it.
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Tags: breasts, breast exam, breastfeeding