October: Breast Cancer Awareness Month (facts for women - part 1 of a 2 part series)

Here are a few facts and a brief overview regarding females and Breast Cancer:

• The chances of getting breast cancer:  Approximately 1 in 8.
• Breast cancer causes approximately 40, 000 deaths per year.

What you can do: While there is still much to learn about the causes of breast cancer and research is ongoing, here are a few tips from what is known thus far to help reduce your risk:

• Learn how perform a breast self examination (BSE) and perform it monthly. Find a date that works for you and one that is easy to remember so you can do it on a regular basis to detect changes in your breasts such as, but not limited to, lumps (painful or non-painful), nipple discharge, dimpling, redness, swelling or thickening of the skin of the breasts or nipples, and, or, a change in the position of the nipples. Contact your doctor for any symptoms, changes, questions or concerns that you have.
• See your doctor yearly for a clinical breast exam (this is usually done during a yearly pelvic exam with a pap test).
• Get a Mammogram once per year starting at age 40 (or sooner if you are advised by your doctor due to a strong family history or concerns that are already present regarding your breasts). The goal for these first 3 points is early detection which increases survival rates.
• Limit your alcohol intake to no more 2 drinks per day. Consuming more than 2 drinks per day increases your breast cancer risk.
• Maintain a healthy weight as women who are overweight,  have an increased risk of developing breast cancer.
• Exercising daily (or at least 5 days per week) has been shown to reduce the risk of getting breast cancer. You don’t have to run marathons; walking for a minimum of 30 minutes per day for 5 days of the week, can help to reduce your risk; even better, 60 minutes per day 5 days or more per week. Inactivity increases your risk.

The last 3 tips regarding alcohol, weight management and daily exercise, are key to maintaining your overall/general health in addition to helping to reduce your risk of breast cancer.

• Other facts for females:  Having your first child after age 30 (or not having any children), recent birth control use and using hormone replacement therapy after menopause all increase your risk. 

For more information visit these websites: www.cdc.gov and www.cancer.org . *Contact your doctor for any concerns you may have regarding your health.