Many of us have heard of the word cancer and breast cancer is talked about often. But did you know that it affects 1 in 8 women? That’s 12.5% of all women will get breast cancer. That number seems crazy high to me for an incidence rate! It is also the second leading cause of cancer-related deaths (American Cancer Society, 2021).
What to watch for:
- New lump or mass in your breast or armpit area
- Breast swelling
- Skin dimpling on breast
- Breast or nipple pain
- Inward turning of nipple
- Nipple or breast skin that’s red, flaky, dry, or beginning to thicken
- Abnormal nipple discharge
- Swollen lymph nodes around chest or in armpit region
What can you do to decrease your chances of getting breast cancer?
- Limit your alcohol intake (20% higher chance with 2-3 drinks a day)
- Lower your BMI, especially before menopause
- Move your body 150-300 minutes of moderate activity or 75-150 minutes of vigorous activity a week
- Have children before age 30 (over 30 has higher hormone levels)
- Try to breastfeed if possible (fed is best! But breastfeeding does help lower your chances)
- Certain birth controls increase your risk so ask your doctor about which one is best for you
- After menopause, hormone replacement therapy increases your risks and should be weighed against the benefits
- Breast implants have been linked to a rare type of non-Hodgkin lymphoma
Perform monthly self breast exams while in the shower and report any unusual findings to your doctor.
References
American Cancer Society. (2021). Breast cancer. https://www.cancer.org/cancer/breast-cancer.html
