Breast Cancer

Research shows that lifestyle changes can lower the chances of getting breast cancer, even in people at high risk. To lower your risk:

• Limit or stay away from alcohol. It’s safest not to drink alcohol. But if you do drink it, enjoy it in moderation. The more alcohol you have, the greater your risk of getting breast cancer. Women should have no more than one drink a day. Even small amounts raise the risk of breast cancer.
• Stay at a healthy weight. Ask a member of your health care team whether your weight is healthy. If it is, work to maintain that weight. If you need to lose weight, ask your health care professional how to do so.
• Get active. Physical activity can help you stay at a healthy weight, which helps prevent breast cancer. Most healthy adults should aim for at least 150 minutes a week of moderate aerobic exercise. Or try to get at least 75 minutes of vigorous aerobic exercise a week. Aerobic exercise gets your heart pumping. Some examples are walking, biking, running and swimming. Also aim to do strength training at least twice a week.
• Breastfeed. If you have a baby, breastfeeding might play a role in helping prevent breast cancer. The longer you breastfeed, the greater the protective effect.
• Limit hormone therapy after menopause. Talk with your health care provider about the risks and benefits of hormone therapy. You might be able to manage your symptoms with treatments and medicines that don’t use hormones. If you decide that the benefits of short-term hormone therapy outweigh the risks, use the lowest amount that works for you.
• If you smoke, quit. Some research suggests that smoking tobacco raises the risk of breast cancer. Breathing in another person’s cigarette smoke also may raise the risk. If you or a loved one needs help quitting, talk with a member of your health care team.

Women should receive regular screenings to promote the early detection and treatment of breast cancer.

• All women: Understand the benefits, limitations and potential risks of breast cancer screenings, including how family history and other risk factors play a role. Learn how to perform a monthly self-breast exam and contact your health care provider if you’re under 40 and notice any changes.
• Women ages 40 to 44: Talk to your health care provider about breast cancer screening, including mammograms (breast X-rays).
• Women ages 45 to 54: Schedule a yearly mammogram through a health care provider or local county health department.
• Women 55 and older: Switch to mammograms every two years or continue annual screenings. Screenings should continue as long as you are in good health.

It is not yet known exactly what causes breast cancer, but it is known that certain risk factors are linked to the disease.

There are risk factors you cannot control:

• Sex – Breast cancer is 100 times more common in women than men.
• Family History – Having a close family relative (such as a mother, sister, father, or daughter) who have had breast cancer.
• Genetic Risk Factors – Women with mutations in either the BRCA1 or BRCA2 gene changes have up to an 80% chance of getting breast cancer during their lifetimes.
• Previous Radiation – Women who have had radiation treatment to the chest area (as treatment for another cancer) earlier in life have a greatly increased risk of breast cancer.
• Breast Density – A dense breast has less fat than glandular and connective tissue. Mammogram films of breasts with higher density are harder to read and interpret than those of less dense breasts.

There are also risk factors you can control:

• Woman’s Age with First Child – Having your first child before age 30 can lower your risk.
• Hormone Replacement Therapy – Postmenopausal women who take combined estrogen and progesterone hormone therapy have an increased risk of breast cancer.
• Alcohol Intake – Women who drink two or more alcoholic drinks per day have about one and one half times greater risk of breast cancer than women who do not drink.
• Healthy Weight – The link between weight and breast cancer is complex but there is an increased risk of breast cancer for those who are overweight or obese.
• Lactation – Breastfeeding lowers a woman’s risk of getting breast cancer.

Learn more about breast cancer rates in Florida.