• E-mail
• Print
• Comment
• Font Size
• Digg
• del.icio.us
• Discuss article

The Pink Issue: Your Health - Reduce YOUR Risk ; Are You Worried About Contracting Breast Cancer? The Strongest Risk Factor is Age the Older You Get, the More Likely Cancer Will Affect You. But There Are Some Important Steps You Can Take Throughout Your

Posted on: Sunday, 25 September 2005, 09:00 CDT

Ditch the drink

Drinking large amounts of alcohol over time increases your risk of mouth, throat and oesophagus cancers, and experts now believe it can increase your risk of breast cancer, too.

Although drinking alcohol in moderation can improve your general well- being, as little as one glass of wine a day can increase your chance of getting breast cancer by around seven per cent.

Have a baby

The more children you have, the less likely you are to develop breast cancer, and medically, the younger you have them, the better.

If you have children after 30, or not at all, youre at a higher risk than if you have children before 30.

Breastfeed

The longer you breastfeed a baby, the less likely you are to develop breast cancer. Experts believe that changes which take place in the breast during breastfeeding provide some protection against the disease. A US study found that those who breastfed for more than two years had a 33 per cent lower risk than those who never breastfed.

Even breastfeeding for six months is better than not at all.

Ponder the Pill

Whether youve had a baby and are back on the Pill, or youve been on it for a long time, the contraceptive pill causes a small increase in the risk of breast cancer, which usually lowers again once you stop taking it.

On the other hand, the breast cancer risk is often outweighed by other health benefits of oral contraception.

If youre concerned, weigh up the pros and cons with your GP.

Get into your genes

If you have a living relative with breast cancer, and a high number of other cases in your family, you may be suitable for genetic testing.

The process looks for changes in certain genes, such as BRCA1 and BRCA2, which are known to increase the risk of developing breast cancer. These faulty genes account for about one in 20 breast cancer cases.

Food for thought

Chemical pesticides used in agriculture have been linked to various cancers, including breast cancer, in farm animals. There is no evidence to suggest that the tiny traces of these chemicals found on some of our foods can increase our cancer risk, but you are recommended to rinse your fruit and veg before you eat it.

Or buy organic produce, which hasnt come into contact with such chemicals.

Learn from others

In cultures such as Inuit (Eskimo) there has never been a single case of cancer reported. Experts believe this is largely due to their diets being high in vitamin B-17. The highest concentration of B-17 is found in fruit, particularly apples, apricots and cherries.

Bitter almonds, cashew nuts, all wild berries and grains such as brown rice, flax and rye also contain B-17.

Early birds

Between 40 and 49, if you have a family history of breast cancer you may be able to request regular mammograms, which dont become routine until the age of 50. Speak to your GP.

Think HRT

As with the Pill, theres a slightly increased risk of developing breast cancer when taking hormone replacement therapy to cope with the menopause. The risk is higher with oestrogen-progesterone combinations than with oestrogen-only versions of HRT, and the risk increases the longer you take it.

Think about what youll do before the time comes and get advice from your GP. Most women go through it in their late 40s or early 50s.

Is it all white?

Until January 2000, British cattle were often given a hormone called bovine somatotropin (BST) to boost their milk yield. This milk contains a higher level of an insulin growth factor (IGF-1), which humans and cows both produce.

High levels of IGF-1 found in blood has been linked to breast cancer. But it isnt yet known if drinking cows milk with high IGF-1 can increase our own level of it, or if different levels of IGF-1 occur naturally.

If youre worried, avoid consuming milk and dairy products from America, where BST is still licensed.

Fight the flab

There is scientific proof that obesity increases the risk of breast cancer in women after the menopause.

Experts believe it could be that once your ovaries stop producing oestrogen, fat cells become the main source of oestrogen, which upsets the balance of hormones and stimulates the growth of some breast cancers.

Five alive

Eating plenty of fruit and veg, which are high in vitamins and antioxidants, can help protect cells in your body from potential damage.

Aim to eat five portions of fruit or veg per day, and also eat plenty of high fibre foods such as bran cereals, wholewheat pasta and bread, beans and lentils. Diets that are high in red or processed meat, such as ham and bacon, may be linked to breast cancer, so swap for chicken, turkey or fish.

Move your body

Take moderate exercise five times a week for 30 minutes at a time. If you dont have the time or money for gyms, walking briskly, gardening, dancing, pushing your grandchilds pram or doing the housework will do.

Get screened

All women between the ages of 50 and 70 are invited for a mammogram every three years, which can identify breast cancer in the early stages.

If you have a family history of breast cancer, ask your GP about screening before the age of 50, and if you reach 70 and still want regular mammograms, theyre available on request.

And the factors you cant control...

l The older you get, the higher your risk of developing breast cancer.

l Youre more likely to develop breast cancer if you started your periods early or have the menopause late.

l The denser your breast tissue, the more likely cancer is to occur.

l Certain types of benign, harmless breast lumps can increase your risk of developing a cancerous lump.

For more information on breast cancer prevention contact: www.breakthrough.org.uk 08080 100200

www.breastcancercare.org.uk 0808 800 6000

www.cancerhelp.org.uk

Hereditary Breast Cancer Helpline 01629 813000

HOW TO CHECK YOUR BREASTS

The message from the charity Breakthrough Breast Cancer for Octobers breast cancer awareness month is to show your breasts some TLC, so...

TOUCH your breasts. Feel for anything at all unusual.

LOOK for changes. Be aware of their shape and texture.

CHECK anything unusual with your doctor. Chat with your friends if youre worried.

For years, weve often been given confusing advice about how to check our breasts for lumps, but Breakthroughs latest campaign makes this straightforward. Just look at your breasts frequently and at different times during your monthly cycle and learn what is normal for you.

Changes to look out for include:

l Size or shape for example if one breast becomes larger or sits lower than the other.

l Skin texture, such as puckering or dimpling.

l Appearance or direction of nipple one nipple might turn in on itself.

l Discharge if one or both nipples appear to discharge a blood- stained liquid.

l A rash or crusting of the nipple or surrounding area.

l A lump in the breast or close by, like the armpit.

l Lumpy area or an unusual thickening of breast tissue that doesnt go back to normal after your period.

l Pain in part of the breast or armpit that is unrelated to periods.

l See your GP if you are worried.

50-something Lesley Garrett

Source: People, The; London

More News in this Category