October is Breast Cancer Awareness Month here in the US. With this in mind, we thought now would be a great time to educate our readers on breast cancer. Breast cancer is among the most common types of cancer for women. While it may not be possible to prevent breast cancer, there are things women can do to help reduce their risk. We strongly recommend following these steps:
Eat Right & Exercise Regularly
Women who are overweight or obese, especially after menopause, may have an increased risk of developing breast cancer. That’s why it’s so important to maintain a nutritious diet and get regular daily exercise in order to maintain a stable, healthy body weight. It’s important to limit time spent sitting down, especially for women who sit for extended periods of time at work.
Perform Breast Self-Exams
Performing frequent breast self-exams is a critical tool for detecting potential breast cancers in their early stages. We recommend performing a self-exam once each month to feel for potential irregularities including lumps, tumors, cysts, or dimples that can occur in a woman’s breasts. In the case that something abnormal is detected, it’s important to reach out to a health care provider for a screening appointment as soon as possible. While important, breast self-exams are not meant to replace yearly mammograms, which are still the best way to detect potential breast cancers.
Live a Clean Lifestyle
In addition to eating right and exercising, other healthy lifestyle habits can also help reduce the risk of breast cancer. Specifically, it’s important to limit or avoid the consumption of alcohol and tobacco products. The American Cancer Society recommends that women do not exceed one alcoholic drink on any given day. Also, there is a known link between smoking and breast cancer, especially in premenopausal women. Here at Gynecology Associates of Gwinnett, we understand how critical breast cancer prevention is. That’s why we perform breast exams as part of well woman exams. For more information or to request a well woman exam, please contact Gynecology Associates of Gwinnett today. And follow us on Facebook and Twitter for additional information, news, and more.
