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NetWellness provides the highest quality health information and education services created and evaluated by faculty of our partner universities.
Friday, February 10, 2012
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NetWellness provides the highest quality health information and education services created and evaluated by faculty of our partner universities.
Friday, February 10, 2012
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Breast Cancer |
Breast-cancer04/19/2002 |
What can you not do to get it.
Thank you for your question. Scientists do not know the exact causes of breast cancer. It is thought there are many variables involved when a man or woman develops breast cancer. Researchers have defined risk factors that increase the chances of developing the disease. But many women who have breast cancer have none of the risk factors. Risk factors include increasing age, especially over 60 years of age, having a family history of breast cancer, having a mutation in the BRCA1 or BRCA2 breast cancer genes, having menstruation before age 12, starting menopause after age 55. A man or woman cannot do anything to change these risk factors to prevent breast cancer. However, research finds that a person`s diet can affect the risk of breast cancer. A woman who eats a diet high in fat and/or is overweight seem to have a greater risk. It is thought a diet low in fat, eating 5 fruits and 5 vegetables per day, maintaining an ideal weight with well balanced meals can lower her risk of developing breast cancer. Also, there seems a higher risk of breast cancer with the amount of alcohol consumed. Drinking alcohol should be only in moderation.Early detection of breast cancer is essential to detect breast cancer when it is very small. So research is focused on new techniques to produce pictures or evidence of cancer in the tissues of the breast. To this date, screening methods of detecting early breast cancer recommended by the American Cancer Society are: All women should perform monthly breast self examinations by age 20, have a clinical breast exam at least every 3 years between the ages of 20 and 40 and every year after 40, have a mammogran every year at age 40 and over.
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Janet Trigg, RN, MSN, EdD Formerly: College of Nursing University of Cincinnati |
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