Breast cancer is one of the most commonly diagnosed cancers with a massive prevalence worldwide. Several reports suggest that around 2,261,419 breast cancer cases were diagnosed in 2020. Also, around 685,000 deaths occurred due to breast cancer last year. Every year, organizations come together to raise awareness about breast cancer. Many initiatives have been formulated to provide access to early diagnosis for high-risk patients. The primary objective of such initiatives is to educate people about risk factors and lifestyle tips to reduce the risk of breast cancer.
Prevention is better than cure – a saying you hear every time you visit your doctor. Well, there could be nothing more accurate than this. Your chances of developing breast cancer can be significantly lowered by bringing positive changes to your lifestyle.
GoMedii, your trusted medical travel partner, offers top lifestyle tips to reduce the risk of breast cancer.
Understanding Breast Cancer: Overview
Breast cancer is a type of cancer that develops in the breast area. Unlike the perceived notions, cancer doesn’t discriminate between men and women. It can be benign (early stages) or metastatic (later stages). These cancers tend to grow beyond the boundaries of their origin, especially in the lymph node. Most commonly, it occurs in women, but its prevalence has an impact on men as well. Usually, the treatment for breast cancer depends upon the stage and the extent of the cancer. Although this type of cancer isn’t 100% preventable, it can be treated if caught at early stages.
Reproductive risk factors associated with breast cancer include:
- The age of menarche.
- Number of pregnancies.
- Age at first birth.
- Lifetime duration of breastfeeding.
- Age at menopause.
- Use of menopausal hormone therapy.
What Are The Causes Of Breast Cancer?
Several reasons contribute to the development of breast cancer, such as:
- Periods in the early phase of puberty
- Breast cysts or lump
- Increasing age
- Exposure to female hormones
- Previous breast cancer diagnosis
- Inheritance of mutations in the genes BRCA2, BRCA1 and CHEK2
Being overweight, physically inactive, excessive smoking, and alcohol are the signs of a poor lifestyle that can increase the chances of developing breast cancer.
Lifestyle Tips To Reduce Risk Of Breast Cancer
Many healthcare professionals emphasize lifestyle tips to reduce the risk of breast cancer, compared to other treatment modalities. These healthy habits contribute to the vital functioning of the body, and various research shows that lifestyle tips to reduce the risk of breast cancer potentially help to minimize the chances of developing breast cancer.
Following are the lifestyle tips to reduce the risk of breast cancer that pivotally endorse the changes in the human body:
1. Avoid taking hormone replacement therapy (HRT) after menopause: Many women start taking hormone replacement therapy (HRT) to relieve the symptoms of menopause, and in some cases, this therapy can induce rapid changes inside the body, increasing the risk of breast cancer. Hormone replacement therapy is a type of medication that contains female hormones that are often used to increase the estrogen level in your body post-menopause.
2. Maintain an ideal body weight: Excess fat, especially around the abdomen region, produces estrogen. In post-menopausal women, this extra estrogen can fuel the growth of hormone-receptor-positive breast cancers. Excess fat tissues prolong the exposure to estrogen in post-menopausal women when it should decrease. This leads to a heightened risk of developing breast cancer.
3. Be physically active: It is one of the most straightforward lifestyle tips to reduce the risk of breast cancer. Various observations have shown that women who exercise regularly are less likely to be diagnosed with breast cancer. The recurrence rate is also meager, and it decreases the blood estrogen levels.
Daily exercise is one of the best Lifestyle Tips To Reduce Risk Of Breast Cancer
4. Breastfeeding: Breastfeeding explicitly shows various benefits, including reduced risk of long-term illnesses such as diabetes and hypertension. It also provides benefits in limiting the risk factors for breast cancer, as well as endometrial and ovarian malignancies. Some show that breastfeeding women experience fewer hormonal changes during lactation, which may delay their menstrual periods. Furthermore, it also reduces lifetime exposure to hormones like estrogen.
5. Limit your alcohol intake: Many healthcare professionals believe that excessive alcohol increases the risk of breast cancer in men and women. Even a tiny amount may contribute to the rise of breast cancer. According to the National Cancer Institute, various epidemiologic studies also concluded that alcohol intake drastically increases the risk of breast cancer.
A combined data from different parts of the world showed that light drinkers have a slightly increased (1.04-fold higher) risk of breast cancer as compared to non-drinkers. Researchers believe that alcohol may increase the risk by damaging DNA at the cellular level. If you do consume alcohol, it is advised that you do so moderately.
Avoiding alcohol is one of the best Lifestyle Tips To Reduce Risk Of Breast Cancer
6. Quit smoking: Smoking tobacco can increase the risk of breast cancer as it increases the toxicity level in your body, which can lead to the development of abnormal cells. Tobacco contains various carcinogens, such as polycyclic aromatic hydrocarbons, aromatic amines, and N-nitrosamines, which potentially induce breast tumors and may cause a more aggressive breast cancer phenotype.
Furthermore, these carcinogens damage the DNA and promote adduct formation in mammary epithelial cells. Several pieces of evidence show that these tobacco-related DNA adducts provoke gene mutations of breast tissues in smokers compared to non-smokers.
Quitting tobacco is one of the best Lifestyle Tips To Reduce Risk Of Breast Cancer
7. Understand Your Family History: A family history of cancer is one of the significant causes of the development of breast cancer. In some people, the risk is very high because other members of their family have had cancer. The prevalence of developing breast cancer is doubled if one of the family members (a first-degree relative) has been diagnosed with this disease. The chances of gene mutation are very high in those who have a strong family history of breast cancer.
8. Avoid Taking Saturated Fat: Several healthcare professionals believe that a diet rich in fat might lead to obesity, which can increase the risk of breast cancer. Saturated fat has been linked to increased levels of estrogen and insulin-like growth factor-1 (IGF-1), which directly influence the progression and mortality of hormone receptor-positive breast cancer.
Eating healthy is one of the best lifestyle tips to reduce the risk og breast cancer.
9. Annual Clinical Assessment: Clinical assessment provides top-to-bottom information about breast health. After the age of 40, it is advised to visit your nearest clinic for annual mammograms to check for the risk of breast cancer.
What Are The Modalities of Breast Cancer Treatment In India?
Modalities of breast cancer treatment in India encompass a multidisciplinary approach, all done within a comprehensive environment. Typically, the treatment methods depend on the extent of the cancer and the patient’s condition.
Following are the treatment options for breast cancer, includes:
1. Surgery:
It includes a multimodal approach for various surgical methods for breast cancer, such as:
- Lumpectomy: Removal of the tumor and a small amount of surrounding tissue.
- Sentinel Node Biopsy: Removal and examination of the lymph nodes to determine if cancer has spread.
- Mastectomy: Removal of the entire breast. This can be further turned into modified radical mastectomy or radical mastectomy.
2. Adjuvant Therapies:
This procedure is given after the surgery to reduce the risk of cancer recurrence.
1. Chemotherapy: Systemic treatment uses drugs to kill or control the growth of cancer cells. It can be administered before or after surgery.
2. Hormone Therapy: For hormone receptor-positive breast cancers, hormone therapy is used to block the effects of hormones that fuel certain types of tumors.
3. Targeted Therapy: Medications targeting specific molecules involved in cancer growth. Commonly used for HER2-positive breast cancers.
4. Immunotherapy: Stimulates the body’s immune system to target and destroy cancer cells.
5. Radiation Therapy:
- External Beam Radiation: High-energy rays are directed at the affected breast to destroy cancer cells.
- Brachytherapy: Radioactive sources are placed directly within or near the tumor.
3. Palliative Care:
Palliative care is the most primal feature of the Indian healthcare sector. The top medical facilities provide excellent patient care and focus on the relief from the symptoms and also promote the vital development of individuals with advanced breast cancer.
They provide you with a specific treatment plan depending on factors such as the stage and type of breast cancer. Furthermore, the continuous advancements in medical research and technology widely support the latest treatments and refine the existing ones.
FAQs Related To Lifestyle Tips To Reduce Risk Of Breast Cancer
Q: How can I protect my breasts?
A: By following various lifestyle tips to reduce the risk of breast cancer, such as maintaining an ideal body weight, being physically active, quitting alcohol and smoking, breastfeeding, and avoiding BCPs, also called oral contraceptives.
Q: How does cancer start?
A: The primal cause for cancer development is a mutation that occurs inside the genes( the basic physical units of inheritance), due to which an abnormal growth of cells begins that further evolve into lumps and tumors.
Q: What is the number 1 cancer?
A: According to the National Cancer Institute, breast and lung cancer is the most common form of cancer, with a prevalence rate of 12.5 and 12.2 %.
Q: Is cancer 100% preventable?
A: The permanent cure depends upon the type and the stage of cancer. However, a few cancers are more likely to be cured. In some cases, 100% prevention isn’t possible, particularly for those who are in their 4th stage of cancer.
Q: What is early detection for cancer?
A: Early detection is part of treatment that includes various steps and procedures for detecting symptomatic patients as early as possible.
Choose GoMedii For The Best And Affordable Breast Cancer Treatment In India
If you want the best and most affordable breast cancer treatment in India, you are at the right place and time! Trust GoMedii with your treatment; we assure you of a top-notch, hassle-free process.
We have tie-ups with one of the most reputed hospitals to get you the best medical treatment in India at an affordable cost. Furthermore, to avail yourself of our packages, you can contact us on our website or call us at +91-9599004311. Additionally, you can also email us at connect@gomedii.com. Our team will respond to you on a priority basis.
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