Breast Cancer Prevention

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Breast cancer prevention should be on the minds of all women when there is a one in eight chance they will develop it at some point in their life. Medical advancements within the last several decades have contributed to saving thousands of lives from this deadly disease. But the responsibility also lies within the individual, and women should be aware of what risk factors they face when protecting themselves from cancer. By taking a few easy steps, a woman can cut her chance of developing this life-threatening illness in half.

Risk factors are a crucial part of breast cancer prevention. You can personally manipulate some risk factors, but other are considered uncontrollable. Controlled factors can be determined by your lifestyle. Eating foods that are high in fat and low in nutrients can be a culprit to cancer, along with smoking and excessive drinking. Forgoing any form of physical activity can also greatly increase a woman's chance of developing this deadly disease, especially if she is already overweight. But a woman can be perfectly healthy, have absolutely no risk factors, and still develop breast cancer. The bottom line is that cancer is a gamble, and you have to arm yourself with enough knowledge to have a winning hand.

There are certain medications available to women who fall under high risk factors for breast cancer. The drug Tamoxifen has been used in the United States for over twenty-five years to help in the fight for breast cancer prevention. The drug is taken once daily as a pill and interferes with the female hormone estrogen, preventing it from attaching itself to cells in the breast tissue. This medication can also be used to treat women already diagnosed with breast cancer because it can slow down or cease the growth of cancerous cells. Tamoxifen has even been associated with helping prevent a recurrence in women who previously suffered from breast cancer.

A more common way to prevent breast cancer is through mammograms. A mammogram is an x-ray of the breast and is the most common form of prevention. Women who are over forty years of age should get mammograms on a yearly basis. For women in their twenty's and thirty's, the American Cancer Society's web site recommends getting clinical breast exams at least every three years from a medical professional. This test is performed using the tips of the fingers to check the entire breast area and under the arm. In addition to mammograms and clinical breast exams, women should also perform breast self exams each month to recognize any signs of lumps or abnormalities in the tissue.

The Center for Disease Control (CDC) is able to help women who fall within the lower poverty levels, are uninsured or underserved gain access to screenings for breast cancer. This program is called the National Breast and Cervical Cancer Early Detection Program. The CDC's web site touts it has served more than two million women under this program since its inception in 1991. In 2000, Congress expanded this service by opening it up to women who are on Medicaid. This breast cancer control act, formally titled the Breast and Cervical Cancer Prevention and Treatment Act, is a way to help women, who may have little access to quality health care, have a chance at breast and cervical cancer prevention.

For anyone who has suffered from breast cancer, maintaining prevention is critical. It should be just as important for those who never have experienced this disease. Breast cancer prevention is about learning your genetic make-up and if anyone in your family suffered from cancer. Prevention is also about making healthier lifestyle choices by eating right, exercising and avoiding cigarettes. Be smart and make the right decisions to ensure you will have a long and healthy life.

Well there you have it, that the end of this article thanks for reading.

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