My mother died of breast cancer. What can I do to reduce my risk of getting it?
Some, but not all, risk factors for breast cancer are known. Some are “modifiable,” meaning they can be changed. Others can’t be changed and are “nonmodifiable.” The top risk factors are age over 60 years, early menstruation, and family history of breast cancer. Women are at greater risk if they have a mother, sister, or daughter with breast cancer. These are all nonmodifiable risk factors. Other risks include high-fat diet, late menopause (after age 50), never having been pregnant or giving birth, and white race. Many scientists are trying to find a link between exercise and breast cancer risk. A large study of 1550 women at the University of Buffalo in New York was done. The goal was to find out if total number of hours per year exercising changes the risk of breast cancer. In other words, is exercise a way to prevent breast cancer? If so, how much and what kind is needed? The answers to these questions aren’t clear at this time. More studies are needed to guide women in this area.
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