How to Lower Risk of Breast Cancer

Medical and health researchers have identified a number of factors that increase a woman's risk from breast cancer. Here are steps you can take to bring those factors under control, and lower your risk from developing cancer of the breast. Remember, an ounce of prevention...!

Difficulty: Moderately Challenging

Instructions

1. **Watch Your Weight**
   
   Easy to say, hard to do, I know. But being overweight is a double-whammy risk factor, as it increases the odds of getting breast cancer, and reduces the likelihood of surviving the cancer if you do get it. Yet another motivation for slimming down.

2. **Work Out**
   
   Regular exercise helps you watch your weight, of course. But there's more to it than that. Exercise can help boost your natural immune system, and also leads to lower levels of certain body chemicals, like estrogen and insulin, that have been tied to breast cancer risk.

3. **Lose the Booze**
   
   Just two drinks a day can lead to a significant increase in breast cancer risk. And if you've been reading about some of the health benefits of red wine, with its high levels of resveratrol and flavonoids, those same substances are found in the skin of red grapes, so snack away, alcohol-free.

4. **Go Cruciferous**
   
   So-called cruciferous vegetables like broccoli and kale, contain a substance called sulforaphane, and there is some evidence that this chemical is a boon in helping prevent cancer cells from multiplying. Though delicious cooked, these may offer even more cancer-fighting benefits if eaten raw.

Tips & Warnings

• In the US, about 2,000 men get breast cancer every year (even though on us, we prefer the term pecs!). So guys...pay attention as well.

[Rockney]

on 11/5/2009 Great precautionary advice for breast cancer! 5*!

[maureenw59]

on 10/30/2009 These are great reminders for everyone...also to do regular checks for lumps. 5*