9 Steps to Prevent Breast Cancer


Executive summary about breast cancer by Ann Kulze, M.D

1. Maintain a healthy body weight throughout your life. Weight gain in midlife, has been shown to significantly increase breast cancer risk.
2. Minimize alcohol. Alcohol use is the most well established dietary risk factor for breast cancer.
3. Consume as many vegetables as possible. The superstars for breast cancer protection include all cruciferous vegetables; dark leafy greens; carrots and tomatoes.
4. Exercise regularly the rest of your life. Many studies have shown that regular exercise provides powerful protection against breast cancer.
5. Do your fats right! The type of fat in your diet can affect your breast cancer risk. Minimize consumption of omega-6 fats, saturated fats and trans fats. Consume monounsaturated oils as your primary fat source, as these foods have potential anticancer properties.
6. Minimize consumption of the high glycemic index, Great White Hazards: white flour, white rice, white potatoes, sugar and products containing them.
7. Consume whole food soy products regularly, such as tofu, tempe, edamame, roasted soy nuts, soy milk and miso. Only consume organic, non-GMO soy. Epidemiologic studies have shown a positive association between soy consumption and reduced breast cancer risk.
8. Minimize exposure to pharmacologic estrogens and xeno-estrogens. Lifetime exposure to estrogen plays a fundamental role in the development of breast cancer.
9. Maintain a positive mental outlook. The mind-body associations with breast cancer are significant.

Steps to Finding Breast Lumps Early
1. Have your doctor check your breasts.
Talk with your doctor when it's time for your breasts to be checked.

2. Check your breasts yourself every month.
You should check your breasts every month beginning at about age 20. At this early age, any small lumps are probably just normal breast glands and ducts. Check your breasts a few days after your period.

Changes to look for in your breasts:
1. Unusual thickening of your breasts
2. An unusual increase in the size of one breast
3. One breast unusually lower than the other

Finding breast cancer early makes treatment much easier and more effective. A mammogram is a special kind of X-ray of your breasts. Mammograms detect cancer because cancer is more dense than the normal part of the breast. Your breast will rest on a shelf and the X-ray machine will slowly press against your breast until you feel pressure. Mammograms can be uncomfortable. Your breasts may be less tender at this time. If you have risk factors for breast cancer, such as a family history of breast cancer, your doctor may want you to have mammograms more often.


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