Did you know that one in eight women in the United States will be diagnosed with breast cancer in her lifetime? Breast cancer is the most commonly diagnosed cancer in women.
Knowing the signs and symptoms of breast cancer and staying on-top of early detection are extremely important for a woman’s health. For women 50+, skipping a mammogram every year would miss up to 30% of cancers. Breast cancer is sometimes found after symptoms appear and sometimes, women with breast cancer have no symptoms. This is why regular breast cancer screenings are important.
So, what are a few of the signs that could show up? Some people experience a lump in the breast, bloody discharge, and redness or swollen lymph nodes.
Although there is no way to prevent breast cancer, there are steps women can take to reduce their risk.
Foods You Can Eat
A healthy diet can help reduce the risk of breast cancer and also many diseases like heart disease, diabetes, and stroke. It’s recommended to eat mostly vegetables, fruits, and whole grains, and less red meat, less processed meat, and fewer sweets. Green, yellow and orange veggies are also recommended to help reduce your risk. Try foods like broccoli, mushrooms, cooked tomatoes, and carrots.
For women, being overweight or obese after menopause increases the risk of breast cancer. With 70% of Americans overweight, it’s important to focus on your health and weight.
Exercise Regularly
Start working out often. Studies have found a link between exercising and a reduced risk of being diagnosed with breast cancer or a recurrence of breast cancer. The American Cancer Society suggest working out about four to five hours per week at a moderate intensity level.
Examples of exercises include swimming laps, jogging, hiking, and bicycling.
Limit Alcohol
Studies say that as little as one alcoholic drink can raise your risk for breast cancer. Cancer experts are still unsure why this is, but believe it could be caused by the alcohol increasing estrogen and other hormones or increased amounts of folic acid.
Don’t Smoke
Smoking increases your risk of many diseases such as heart diseases, stroke, and lung cancer. It can also increase the risk of breast cancer. Quitting smoking is definitely not easy. If you’re interested in quitting, click here to learn more. There are many things that can increase your risk of breast cancer. It’s important to educate yourself and get tested regularly. We at Glasstic are continuing to show our support for breast cancer awareness all month long. Check out our collection of breast cancer awareness bottles.
