Hair Care and Hair Loss: Cancer and Hair Loss Part III

Cancer and Hair Loss (Part III)

Prevention ~ Reducing the Risk of Breast Cancer

Prevention

Risk factors such as genes and family history cannot be controlled. However, a healthy diet and a few lifestyle changes may reduce your overall chance of cancer.

Examples of healthy lifestyle changes are ~

Limit alcohol

Based on studies, women who consume 2 to 5 drinks daily have about 1½ times the risk of women who do not consume alcohol.

Stay physically active

Studies by the Women's Health Initiative found that women who walked briskly 1.25 to 2.5 hours per week reduced a woman's breast cancer risk by 18%. The American Cancer Society recommends exercising 30 minutes a day, 5 days a week for cancer prevention. Some recommended examples of "exercise" to reduce the risk of cancer are walking, yoga, dancing, rollerblading, Tai Chi, softball, volleyball, soccer, hiking swimming, cycling, and dodge ball.

Don’t smoke

Although there has not been a direct link between smoking and breast cancer, studies suggest that smoking at an early age can increase a woman's risk. Not only can it be a risk for breast cancer, smoking is a definite risk factor for lung cancer.

Limit fat intake

A diet low in fat not only decreases the risk of obesity, it can reduce your risk of breast cancer. Estrogen plays a major role in the development of breast cancer. Fat tissue contains small amounts of estrogen and may increase your risk. There have been conflicting studies about fat intake and breast cancer risk, however all studies have concluded that obesity plays a big part in breast cancer development.

Eat healthy

Cancer-promoting foods are typically rich in refined sugars, processed carbohydrates, preservatives and byproducts of deep-frying. Read more here.

Healthy eating guidelines are intended to promote overall health while reducing the risk of developing nutrition-related diseases like cancer and heart disease. Healthy eating guidelines from around the world can be found here. For safety concerns, check with your local health/food inspection agencies.

Combining risk-reducing habits with limiting exposure to substances that promote the disease will be even more beneficial.

Reducing the Risk of Breast Cancer

The following are additional things to consider to minimize the risk factor ~

Have children earlier in life, if possible

Having no children or having a first child in the mid-thirties or later increases the risk of breast cancer.

Consider Breastfeeding Instead of Formula Feeding.

Researchers believe that the months without a period during pregnancy and breast feeding may reduce a woman's risk of breast cancer. This accompanies the data that suggests that early menopause lowers the risk factor, as well.

Birth Control Pills and Breast Cancer Prevention

There's no evidence across-the-board of a link between birth control pill use and breast cancer risk. Analysis of combined data from many older studies suggests a slight increase in risk of premenopausal breast cancer in women who took the pill for four or more years before their first full-term pregnancy. However, the pills used in these studies contained higher estrogen doses than what is available and prescribed today. Experts analyzing all the risk data estimate that birth control pill use causes, at most, 4.7 out of 10,000 cases of premenopausal breast cancer.

Hormone Therapy: Long-term use may undermine breast cancer prevention

Study results from the Women's Health Initiative (WHI) raised concerns about the use of hormone therapy for symptoms of menopause. Among other problems, long-term treatment with estrogen-progestin combinations, such as those found in the drug Prempro, increased the risk of breast cancer in women who participated in the trial. Consider talking with a doctor about discontinuing long-term hormone therapy or exploring other options.

Menopausal symptoms may be managed with exercise, dietary changes or non-hormonal therapies that have been shown to provide some relief. If none of these is effective and the benefits of short-term hormone therapy outweigh the risks, consider using the lowest dose of hormone therapy that's effective for symptom relief, and plan on using it only temporarily verses long term.

Use Pesticides and Antibiotics with Caution

Research isn't conclusive, but Breast cancer may be linked to both pesticide exposure and overuse of antibiotics. Until further studies are conducted and more is known about these possible links, be aware of how these substances might counterbalance your efforts at breast cancer prevention.

Exposure to Pesticides

The molecular structure of some pesticides closely resembles that of estrogen. This means they may attach to estrogen receptor sites in the body. Although studies haven't found a definite link between most pesticides and breast cancer, researchers have learned that women with elevated levels of pesticides in their breast tissue have a greater breast cancer risk.

Unnecessary Antibiotics

Scientists recently found a link between antibiotic use and breast cancer — the longer antibiotics were used, the greater the risk of breast cancer. Researchers caution, however, that other factors, such as underlying illness or a weakened immune system, rather than antibiotics themselves, may account for the elevated cancer risk.

In addition to lifestyle changes, be vigilant about early detection of breast cancer. Breast cancer is more easily treated and often curable if it is found early.

Early detection involves ~

Breast self-exams
Clinical breast exams by a medical professional
Screening mammography

Women age 20 and older should examine their breasts once a month during the week following the menstrual period.

Women between the ages 20 and 39 should have a doctor examine their breasts at least once every 3 years.

Women 40 and older should have a complete breast exam by a health care provider every year and a mammogram every 1 - 2 years, depending on their risk factors. Mammography is the most effective way of detecting breast cancer early.

Certain women at high risk for breast cancer may have a breast MRI along with their yearly mammogram. Additionally, the drug Tamoxifen is approved for breast cancer prevention in women aged 35 and older who are at high risk. Reading and researching will help in having an informed discussion with a doctor. Depending on family history and other risk factors, the physician will determine the appropriate screening procedure to detect breast cancer.

Women at very high risk for breast cancer may consider preventive (prophylactic) mastectomy, which is the surgical removal of the breasts. Possible candidates for this procedure may include those who have already had one breast removed due to cancer, women with a strong family history of breast cancer, and persons with genes or genetic mutations that raise their risk of breast cancer.

When to consult a doctor ~

Women should call their doctor immediately if they notice any change in their breasts such as a new breast or armpit lump or skin changes.

Women over the age 35 or older that have a mother or sister with breast cancer, or have already had cancer of the breast, uterus, ovary, or colon.

Women who do not know how or need help learning how to perform a breast self-examination.

Nothing can guarantee a cancer-free life. But practicing healthy habits and consulting a doctor about practical extra measures to take may at least reduce the risk of this potentially fatal disease. Stay informed. Spread awareness and routinely screen!